Daniel Wiffen finishes eighth at World Swimming Championship

The Irishman swam his second-best time ever of 7:50.63 in a stacked final

Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen during Tuesday's 800m Freestyle final at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest. Photograph: Andrea Staccioli/Inpho
Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen during Tuesday's 800m Freestyle final at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest. Photograph: Andrea Staccioli/Inpho

Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen has finished in eight place, in the final of the men’s 800m Freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The Tokyo Olympian had progressed in fifth place from Monday’s heats in a new Irish record time of 7:46.32, smashing his previous best of 7:50.74. This evening, Wiffen swam his second-best time ever of 7:50.63 in a stacked final that included multiple Olympic, World and European medallists.

Daniel Wiffen breaks Irish 800m freestyle record to reach World Championship finalOpens in new window ]

Tokyo 2020: Team Ireland profiles - Daniel Wiffen (Swimming)Opens in new window ]

The race was won by Olympic champion Bobby Finke of the USA in an American record time of 7:39.36, while Germany’s Florian Wellbrock took silver in 7:39.63 and Ukraine’s Mykhailo Romanchuk bronze in 7:40.05.

Wiffen returns to the pool on Friday for the heats of the 1500m Freestyle. Next up for Ireland, Calum Bain swims the 50m Freestyle heats on Thursday morning.

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Results:

Men’s 800m Freestyle final — Daniel Wiffen 7:50.63 (8th)

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson is a sports writer with The Irish Times