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Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen produced a stunning performance to win his second gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships with a commanding victory in the 1500 freestyle final in Doha.
The 22-year-old led from start to finish, aiming to break China’s Sun Yang’s world record of 14 minutes 31.02 seconds.
Although Wiffen fell short of Sun’s mark, he left a world-class field behind and finished in 14 minutes, 34.07 seconds.
He won against Germany’s Florian Wellbrock by 10.54 seconds.
It caps off a remarkable week for the County Armagh swimmer, who won Ireland’s first world gold medal in the 800m freestyle on Wednesday.
Wiffen’s previous best time was 14:34.91, set in Stockholm in April 2023, so the Magherarin swimmer was overjoyed to set a new Irish record of 14:34.07.
“Well, I mean, that race was definitely a good one for me. I set a personal best, but after recording that time in April, I don’t know that it could have been a fluke. I know that, so I’m very happy.”
“I clocked 14.35 seconds at the European Under-23 Championships in my backyard in Dublin, and then I came here and climbed into the 400s, 800s and 1500s. It’s obvious that it was.
“I’m really happy to have won a personal best and two world titles,” Wiffen said.
It was a remarkable performance and one of the best, if not the best swim ever by an Irish male swimmer.
Wiffen’s confidence was extraordinary, leading from the first distance and swimming away from a field that included Olympic champions and multiple world and European medalists.
He increased his advantage with each stroke.
“My coach Andy (Manley) and I were talking about it earlier and we had a little bet on whether I was going to go to PB or not.
“But yeah, 100% just going out a little bit faster than everyone else, staying in my lane for my race, getting to the front and really focusing on what I’m trying to do.”
Wiffen fell short of the world record at the halfway stage, but that remains his goal as he sets his sights on the Paris Olympics.
“So it’s definitely one of my goals to try to break that one day.
“I’m only 22 years old, and I have at least eight more years to go, and I’m sure there will be two or three more Olympics, so I’m sure I’ll go there someday, and I want to be able to do that.”
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