Daniel Wiffen has claimed his second gold medal at the European Aquatics Championships after winning the 1500m freestyle final in spectacular fashion, posting the third fastest time in the history of the event.
In a thrilling final, where the 22-year-old spent the first 1,000 metres under world record pace, he eventually came home just outside it in 14:09.11, the third-fastest time in history after Germany's Florian Wellbrock (14:06.88) and Italy’s Gregorio Paltrineiri (14:08.16).
The Magheralin man finished the race an incredible twelve seconds ahead of his closest competitors, David Aubry (14:21.78) of France and Mykhailo Romanchuk (14:22.18) of Ukraine.
It was Wiffen’s second gold medal of the competition, after he won 400m freestyle gold on Tuesday, his time over five seconds faster than his Irish record of 14:14.45.
An 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗖 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺 from @WiffenDaniel for 1500m Freestyle SC gold 👏
— European Aquatics (@LENaquatics) December 7, 2023
🇮🇪 The @SwimIreland star becomes the 4th man to swim sub 14:10 in the event, his lifetime best! #LENOtopeni2023 | LIVE NOW | @EurovisionSport pic.twitter.com/WTUJ9llOez
"It's a great time, I knew I was going fast as I took it out fast," he said. "I just wanted to see how long I could hold on, I got to the 500m, and I was really feeling it.
"It definitely hurt, but I expected to be that fast building on from the 400m title."
Wiffen's brother Nathan also qualified for the 1500m final, finishing eighth in a time of 14:38.75.
The siblings will be back in the pool on Saturday in the heats of the 800m freestyle, an event in which Daniel is the European record holder.
Meanwhile, Larne's Danielle Hill has qualified for the final of the 50m backstroke, finishing sixth fastest in the semis with a time of 26.62.
𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦
— Swim Ireland (@swimireland) December 7, 2023
Danielle Hill qualifies for the 50 Back Final with a time 26.62 (6th) 🔥
Fantastic swimming again from Hill!#LENOtopeni2023 pic.twitter.com/nYqA0iJvaB
"It's nice to be on the right side of it this time and I can now look forward to the 100m (backstroke heats) tomorrow and carrying a little bit of that speed into it," she said.
"I just want to get going again to be honest."
Hill will be back in action tomorrow morning in the heats of the 100m backstroke ahead of the 50m backstroke final in the evening.
Shane Ryan was in action this morning in the 100m backstroke heats.
Ryan clocked 51.95 to secure a place in the semi-final, however, the National Centre Dublin swimmer will withdraw to concentrate on the 100m freestyle on Saturday.
Also, in action in the 100m backstroke, John Shortt swam a best time of 52.93.
Victoria Catterson was the best of three Irish swimmers in the 100m freestyle. Catterson swam a personal best 54.23 and will be the first reserve for this evening's semi-final.
Erin Riordan touched in 55.06 and Grace Davison in 55.75.
Davison was also in action in the 50m backstroke, finishing in 29.19, and in the same event, last night's 200m backstroke semi-finalist Maria Godden swam a personal best 28.09.
Tom Fannon had an opportunity for another swim in the 50m freestyle after a four-way tie for tenth place and the second reserve spot in yesterday’s semi-final.
