Olympics: Wiffen wraps up successful Games with 18th in Open Water swim

Daniel Wiffen exits the River Seine in Paris after finishing 18th in the 10k swim at the Olympic Games.
Author: Gareth McCulloughPublished 9th Aug 2024

Daniel Wiffen ended a hugely successful Olympic Games with an 18th-placed finish in the 10k Open Water swim in the River Seine this morning.

The 23-year-old - competing in the event for the first time - finished in a time on 1:57:20.1, just under six and a half minutes behind winner, Hungary's Kristof Rasovszky.

It was a tough end for the Magheralin man, who became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to win an individual Olympic gold since Mary Peters in 1972.

Wiffen came out on top in the 800 metres freestyle in the pool, before collecting a bronze in the 1500 metres freestyle just a few days later.

His gold came before Rhys McClenaghan from Newtownards won Pommel Horse gold, with Dublin's Kellie Harrington winning the top medal in boxing ring, becoming the first female - and first Irish boxer - to successful defend their title.

The 2024 Paris Olympics has been Team Ireland's most successful Games, with Newry's Kate O'Connor finishing off the Heptahlon today, while Jordanstown's Stephanie Meadow and Cavan's Leona Maguire are still in action in the Women's Strokeplay Golf at Le Golf National - although none look likely to secure another medal for the team.