Daniel Wiffen got the job done this morning in his first race of the World Aquatics Championships securing a place in the 800m freestyle final in a Paris 2024 Olympics qualification time (OQT) and new Irish record.
Wiffen, who is from Down, is the third swimmer to achieve the OQT with Ellen Walshe (200m Individual Medley) and Mona McSharry (100m Breaststroke) clocking their required time in the first two days of competition.
Swimming in the final heat, Wiffen along with the full Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games 800m Freestyle podium of Bobby Finke (gold), Gregorio Paltrinieiri (silver) and Mykhailo Romanchuk (bronze) took a lead after the first 100 metres and swam stroke for stroke, knowing if they could keep the pace, they would be through to the final. And so it was that all four qualified, advancing in fourth to seventh place to tomorrow’s final.
Job done for Daniel Wiffen to qualify for the final winning his heat in a new Irish record 7:43.81. @WiffenDaniel @jwwrok @teamtsccoach @swimireland @JohnKennyMedia #Fukuoka2023 pic.twitter.com/erXqEqMPOK
— Paul Griffin (@PGriffinFC) July 25, 2023
"I’m feeling great," said Wiffen, who won the heat, "that’s obviously job one done which was to qualify for the Olympics, and then to progress to the final was next so I’ve done both in a really great race.
"My plan was to be as easy as possible, and I was maybe hoping for a tiny bit faster but I’m really happy I made it back and it wasn’t too taxing in the body’.
Wiffen, who ranks fourth into the final did increase his stroke rate for the last 50m to win the heat in 7:43.81, a new Irish Record, erasing his former best of 7:44.45, which was also well inside the OQT of 7:51.65.
"I didn’t go to my legs there I think, it was more that I just wanted to win the heat by a touch, so I knew that if I sped up my stroke rate a tiny bit I’d get it," he said.
Australia’s Sam Short, who won 1500m Freestyle Commonwealth Games Gold ahead of Wiffen’s silver medal last year, is the fastest qualifier for the 800m Freestyle final in 7:40.90.
The Men’s 800m Freestyle Final takes place Wednesday at 12.02pm Irish time.
Also, in action this morning Darragh Greene won his heat of the 50m Breaststroke in 27.54 to finish in 22nd place overall. Victoria Catterson, making her individual world championships debut clocked 2:00.82 in the 200m Freestyle. Both Greene and Catterson return to the pool on Thursday for the 200m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle respectively.
This afternoon, Mona McSharry will compete in the 100m Breaststroke Final. McSharry is ranked fourth going into the final which takes place at 1:45pm (Ireland).
Job done for Daniel Wiffen in the 800m Freestyle Heats!
✅ 4th into the Final with a heat win
✅ Olympic Qualification Time Achieved
✅ New Irish Record 7:43.81#TeamIreland | #teamarenaIRL | #AQUAFukuoka23 pic.twitter.com/FCKQeCNa0L— Swim Ireland (@swimireland) July 25, 2023
See Also: Sligo's Mona McSharry Qualifies For World Final, Olympics Time Secured
