Fortunebets
Daniel Wiffen picked up a bronze medal at this year’s Olympic Games.
The Armagh man finished third in the final of the 1500-metre freestyle final.
It is his second medal of the games after winning gold in the 800 metres during the week.
The American swimmer Bobby Finke broke the world record to take gold, while Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri took silver.
Daniel Wiffen became the first Irishman to win an Olympic swimming medal when he struck gold with a thrilling 800 meters freestyle victory at the Paris Games on Tuesday.
With his twin brother watching 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.
The only other Irish swimmer to win an Olympic swimming title was women’s triple champion Michelle Smith in 1996, and Wiffen was also the North’s first gold medallist in 36 years.
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 took the lead at 650 and stayed there until the final 50.
The Armagh man, 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 won 800 and 1,500 gold at the world championships in Doha in February.
Tokyo 2020 marked the return of the men’s event for the first time since 1904 and Wiffen missed out on the final, but he laid down a marker in Paris with the fastest qualifying time in Monday’s heats.
Wiffen said: “I don’t think a lot of people actually believed me that I was going to do it tonight but yeah it was incredible. I’ve done it – that’s all I want to say!
“I was so nervous, that’s the most nervous I’ve ever been for a race but do you know what calmed me down – I heard by brother shout for me as soon as I walked out. I heard none of the crowd – just him, and that’s what calmed me down, and really levelled my head.”
“I’m not going to lie, there’s this whole saying going around that I’m getting ‘Finked’ – I’m glad to say I haven’t been ‘Finked” so obviously pretty happy to get my hand on the wall first.”
Sligo swimming star Mona McSharry turned in a stunning performance to qualify for the 100m breaststroke final in Tokyo today, the first Irish swimmer to make an Olympic final for 25 years. The 20-year-old clocked 1:06.59 to finish fourth in her semi-final, her time quick enough to see her through to tomorrow’s final in eighth place.
“I’m over the moon. That was the target, make it round by round and when I got to the semi-finals it was the plan to try make it into the final,” she said.
“I knew it was going to be tough. I was in ninth, already having moved up from my starting position so I knew it was going to be a push, everyone is swimming really fast and it’s competitive. I’m just so happy to get another opportunity to race tomorrow.”
McSharry admitted there was some grogginess this morning following a late night after her heat, her time today not quite as swift as she swam in the heats.
“I’m not surprised about that but I’m happier with how the race felt so I’m hoping I can pull the two together and swim a fast time hopefully like that.”
On her plans ahead the final?
“I’m going to relax, have a shower, chill, I might come in tonight for a paddle. I’ll definitely come in and watch Ellen (Walshe) and Brendan (Hyland) race, that’ll be fun, just being a spectator for the night. I’ll try get to bed earlier tonight if I can.”
McSharry said she was reveling in the Olympic experience and making friends beyond the swimming contingent at what is her first Games.
“It’s been amazing,” she said. “That’s the great thing about the Irish spirit as well: we are very close as a nation.”
Her achievement marks an incredible entrance on the Olympic stage for the Grange swimmer, a scholarship student at the University of Tennessee. McSharry, of course, has long been a name marked to make waves at this level, ever since winning gold and bronze medals at the 2017 World Junior Championships.
Speaking of her move stateside, McSharry said: “I really enjoy it, I made so many friends and it’s taken me away from times, it’s more about competing and getting your hand on the wall first and that is why we do this – to compete and race against people, that adrenaline rush you get.”
Her final takes place at 3:17am Irish time on Tuesday, and McSharry will be back in action after that in the heats of the 200m breaststroke on Wednesday.