{"id":594487,"date":"2024-08-03T04:03:34","date_gmt":"2024-08-03T11:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=594487"},"modified":"2024-08-03T08:22:09","modified_gmt":"2024-08-03T15:22:09","slug":"paris-olympics-day-8-prelims-daniel-wiffen-books-lane-four-in-pursuit-of-distance-double","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/paris-olympics-day-8-prelims-daniel-wiffen-books-lane-four-in-pursuit-of-distance-double\/","title":{"rendered":"Paris Olympics, Day 8 Prelims: Daniel Wiffen Books Lane Four As He Seeks Distance Double & Sun Yang’s WR"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paris Olympics, Day 8 Prelims: Daniel Wiffen Books Lane Four In Pursuit Of Distance Double & Sun Yang’s WR<\/h4>\n

Coming into Paris 2024, no Irishman had ever won an Olympic medal in the pool – let alone a gold – before Daniel Wiffen<\/strong> wrote yet another line in the history books.<\/p>\n

Wiffen executed a superb 800 free<\/a>, going past Gregorio Paltrinieri<\/strong> after the final turn and ensuring he had enough in reserve to hold off the late charge of reigning champion Bobby Finke<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old was Ireland’s first Olympic swimming champion since Michelle Smith<\/strong> won three golds among four medals at Atlanta 1996.<\/p>\n

Smith was later banned for tampering with a doping sample but the shadow she cast over Irish swimming has now been eclipsed by Wiffen.<\/p>\n

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Daniel Wiffen: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia<\/p><\/div>\n

Wiffen returned for the second part of his pursuit of the distance double when he took to the water for the 1500, posting 14:40.34 for lane four with\u00a0Paltrinieri set to be alongside him after going 14:42.56<\/p>\n

Ahmed Jaouadi<\/strong> of Tunisia was third through in 14:44.20 with Frenchman David Aubry’s<\/strong> progression in 14:44.90 welcomed by an exuberant crowd at La Defense Arena.<\/p>\n

Kuzey Tuncelli<\/strong> of T\u00fcrkiye\u00a0<\/b>made the world sit up and take notice at last month’s European Junior Championships<\/a> with an astonishing WJR of 14:41.89.<\/p>\n

Going in the second of four prelims, the 16-year-old was on course to eclipse that time before falling a little off the pace to come home in 14:45.27 and qualify fifth.<\/p>\n

Reigning champion Finke (14:45.31), Damien Joly<\/strong> (14:45.52) and David Betlehem<\/strong> of Hungary (14:45.59) completed the field.<\/p>\n

There were casualties though. Sam Short<\/strong>, the 2023 world bronze medallist, was 13th in 14:58.15 while Florian Wellbrock<\/strong>, winner of Tokyo bronze and Doha worlds silver, didn’t crack 15mins, coming in 14th in 15:01.88<\/p>\n