(Reuters) – Daniel Wiffen wiped tears from his eyes on the Paris podium after becoming the first Irishman to win Olympic swimming gold, and a medal of any colour, with a thrilling 800 metres freestyle victory yesterday.
With his twin brother shouting in the crowd, the 23-year-old world champion touched out in an Olympic record time of seven minutes 38.19 seconds to secure Ireland’s first gold of the Games.
Reigning Olympic champion Bobby Finke of the United States took the silver, 0.56 behind, and Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri the bronze.
“Amazing…’What’s my name? Daniel Wiffen, Olympic champion,” he told Ireland’s RTE television. “It’s really good. I can’t believe it.”
The only other Irish swimmer to win an Olympic swimming title was women’s triple champion Michelle Smith in 1996, and Wiffen was also Northern Ireland’s first gold medallist in 36 years.
“I mean, I’m not going to lie, I did tell everybody already I was going to do it before. So it’s just good to see it on paper,” Wiffen told reporters later as some measure of calm returned.
Elijah Winnington led for the first 350 metres, with Wiffen easing into second place only at 250, but the Australian faded and the battle between the top three took off.
Wiffen led at the halfway point with Finke second but Paltrinieri, the Tokyo silver medallist, took the lead at 650 and stayed there until the final 50.
The Irishman, who had appeared to be spent, then turned on the afterburners and blasted down the final length to touch the wall first.
He turned around in triumph, putting his hands to his head before raising his fists to salute the crowd — with a vocal Irish contingent — at the La Defense Arena.
Wiffen, who won 800 and 1,500 gold at the world championships in Doha in February, donned his spectacles for the podium and dabbed repeatedly at his eyes as the Irish anthem sounded.
“I’ve never heard that national anthem at Olympics before,” he said.
The medal was Ireland’s second in the pool in Paris, with Mona McSharry taking women’s 100 breaststroke bronze on Monday night.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris posted on X: “Yes Daniel Wiffin! Masterful. Gold for Ireland. Those last 100 metres were mind blowing!! World class. Olympic record.
“I met Daniel’s parents Rachel & Jonathan & brother Nathan at the weekend so know this is a dream come through for the whole family. You’ve made us so proud!”