Paris Olympics: (Video) Daniel Wiffen in tears after becoming first male Olympic champion in swimming from Ireland
After posting the fastest time in the heats for the 800m freestyle, Daniel Wiffen stocks up gold at 2024 Paris Games.
Follow Us
Daniel Wiffen strikes gold at 2024 Paris Games (Source: Imago)
British-Irish swimmer Daniel Wiffen long had his eyes on the gold, entering Tuesday’s Paris 2024 Olympics. He posted the fastest time in the heats for the 800m freestyle on Monday (July 29). A heavy fave going into the odds, the Magheralin, County Down native kept to his dreams of making history! He is now a gold winner from Ireland.
Wiffen, 23, qualified in the 1500m, 800m & 400m events for Paris 2024 Olympics. Men’s 100 as well as 800-meter Freestyle – Final took place between 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. He turned on the jets, waving by the last 100m to blast past Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri.
Daniel Wiffen thus now holds a gold and the Olympic record with 7:38.19. Wiffen is the ninth athlete in history to win Olympic gold for Ireland. He is the country’s first male Olympic swimming champion.
Day 4 of swimming events at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris were all slated for the La Défense Arena’s Olympic swimming pool. However, the backdrop of the Seine River hosts triathlon and marathon swimming races. There are often many pivotal and even funny viral moments that catch attention during the games. The super patriotic and ardent Leeds swimmer shedding tears in the aftermath of his victory is the most viral by far.
Stateside athletes and top crops winning gold has already been quite a hype. Now, this marks a proud moment for Irish sports indeed.
All and sundry react to Daniel Wiffen’s winning moments
Not everyone cuts out to be the G.O.A.T. Michael Phelps; not everyone traverses channels like it was nothing. They don’t all brave the water just like that as true icons. But when they do, Irish or not, representing the country on a multi-sport global platform draws everyone together. It brings the whole of the Olympic spectrum! Daniel Wiffen is the latest sensation to do just that.
The Loughborough University attendee topped 7:41.53, ahead of Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi in the Paris 2024 Olympics qualifiers. After qualifying for the 800-meter freestyle final, he won gold on July 30 with an Olympic record 7:38.19. Wiffen is Ireland’s first Olympic gold medal winner since 1988 and is the second Irish swimming medalist.
Consequently, here’s what the consensus thoughts are about him:
He broke the streak of Michelle Smith’s three gold medals and a bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Games as Ireland’s only swimming medals. Hence, it’s a big matter indeed. The Aras an Uachtarain PR team (›President.ie) and even the Olympic Federation of #TeamIreland tweeted updates on the win. All have congratulated Daniel Wiffen on his much-deserved win. As such, the matter is sure to go even more viral in the coming hours.
In case you missed it:
- Which country has won the most medals in Swimming at Tokyo Olympics?
- WATCH: “We could be twins,” Michael Phelps gives Snoop Dogg swimming lessons at pool
Stay Updated!
Dibaas.M
(1279 Articles Published)