Daniel Wiffen came home in 18th place in the Olympic marathon swim in Paris on Friday morning, as the swimming events came to a close.
The 23-year-old won gold in the 800m freestyle last Tuesday before adding to that with a bronze in the 1500m on Sunday evening.
Wiffen made Irish Olympic history in another way with his entry to the marathon swim. He became both the first Irishman to race in the marathon swim, as well as the first Irish competitor to enter multiple aquatic disciplines in a single Olympics.
Incredibly, it was also Wiffen's first-ever competitive open-water marathon.
The youngster kept in touch with the leading pack in the race's opening stages but, as the relentless event developed, Wiffen slowly started to drop back.
Nonetheless, 18th place in the murky waters of the River Seine was an outstanding achievement for Wiffen, who completed his first marathon swim in under two hours.
The 10km race is among the most impressive events at the Olympics to the average sports fans, with the demand on the field extraordinarily taxing.
It is also among the most gruelling on the entire programme - and it does not seem as though Daniel Wiffen will be rushing back to compete in it again, judging by his post-race comments.
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Daniel Wiffen finishes 18th in Olympic marathon swim
9 July 2024; A general view as athletes compete in the men's 10km marathon swim at Pont Alexandre III during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
It was a draining morning for the swimmers of the Paris Olympics, as the aquatics events came to a close with the men's 10km swim in the Seine on Friday morning.
Daniel Wiffen won two medals for Ireland in the pool and was an outside shout for a medal on the open water, as he tried his hand at a marathon swim for the first time ever.
The 23-year-old put in an impressive showing - but he was adamant in his post-race interview with RTÉ that he would not be returning to the event.
"It's probably one of the worst things I've ever done but happy I did it... I'm retiring from open water!" - Daniel Wiffen is planning "to party" after completing his superb Olympics with the 10km marathon swim
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Wiffen told RTÉ's Jacqui Hurley that the race was among the "worst" he had ever tried, and jokingly announced his retirement from open-water swimming immediately after the trying race on Friday.
When asked how his first open-water swim had gone, Wiffen made his feelings hilariously clear.
[First] and last! It's probably one of the worst things I've ever done but I'm happy I did it.
I actually placed higher than I did in Tokyo in the pool, so I'm pretty proud of myself! You know, when you get to halfway I was thinking, 'I am already Olympic champion in the pool and I'm coming 18th...'
I was like, 'I'll just finish it but I'm never doing it again!'
My goal was to finish...I'm very happy to say I didn't come last. That's the main thing!
This sport isn't for me, I don't think. I definitely want my own lane next time.
I'm so happy I've completed it and I'm retiring from open-water!
Wiffen revealed that he had considered pulling out of the event but decided to persevere in order to complete it alongside his teammates
10 days after he won gold in the 800m, Daniel Wiffen's commitments at this Olympics are finally over.
Wiffen told Jacqui Hurley that he is looking forward to celebrating with Irish fans at Monday's homecoming on O'Connell Street. However, he also revealed he has more pressing matters to deal with in the intervening days.
I'm looking forward to the homecoming on Monday.
Party, that's exactly what I'm going to do. You'll see me out in nightclubs tonight with some Guinness!
There will scarcely be a more well-earned pint of Guinness drank this summer.
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