Competitor Daniel Wiffen manages to secure a spot in the 800m freestyle final race at the World Championships event
Ireland's Swimmers Shine at World Aquatics Championships
Ireland's swimmers are making a splash at the ongoing World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Jack Cassin set a personal best of 1:57.04 in the heats of the men's 200m butterfly, but further details about his qualification status were not provided.
Three other Irish swimmers are in action on Wednesday. Danielle Hill will compete in heat five of the women's 50m backstroke, while Evan Bailey is scheduled for the eighth heat of the men's 100m freestyle. The competition for Ellen Walshe is slated for 4.25am Irish time in the second heat of the women's 200m butterfly, and Daniel Wiffen will swim in lane eight in the final of the men's 800m freestyle, which is scheduled for 12pm Irish time.
Daniel Wiffen, aged 24, has had a remarkable career so far. In 2023, he became the first Irish swimmer to win a world title by capturing the men's 800m freestyle in 7:40.74 and also winning the 1500m freestyle in 14:34.07, ranking as the eighth fastest all-time in the latter. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he won the gold medal in the 800m freestyle and a bronze in the 1500m freestyle, further solidifying his elite status.
However, Wiffen's history at the World Aquatics Championships includes a challenging title defense in 2025. Recovering from appendicitis, he finished eighth in the final with a time of 7:58.56, surrendering his 800m world title. Despite this, he took the result in stride, acknowledging it was not his best showing but expressing satisfaction with reaching the final. He is also competing in the 400m and 1500m freestyle events in 2025.
Wiffen qualified eighth for the final of the men's 800m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, touching the wall in 7:46.36 during the heats. However, he felt weak during both the 400m and 800m freestyle events and plans to figure out the issue before the final.
Semi-finals for the women's 50m backstroke, women's 200m butterfly, and men's 100m freestyle are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon (Irish time) at the World Aquatics Championships.
The competition for Jack Cassin's qualification status for the men's 200m butterfly event at the World Aquatics Championships was not provided in the article.
*Note: The table below provides a summary of Daniel Wiffen's achievements at the World Aquatics Championships and the Olympics.
| Year | Event | Result | Notes | |-------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | 2023 | World Aquatics Championships (Doha) | 800m freestyle gold, 1500m freestyle gold | First Irish swimmer to win a world title; 8th fastest 1500m ever | | 2024 | Paris Olympics | 800m freestyle gold, 1500m freestyle bronze | Olympic champion, double medallist | | 2025 | World Aquatics Championships (Singapore) | 8th in 800m freestyle final | Defending champ, recovering from appendicitis |
Ireland's swimmers continue to showcase their skills in the sports of swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, with Danielle Hill, Evan Bailey, and Ellen Walshe set to compete on Wednesday. However, Dan Wiffen, a notable Irish swimmer, is facing a challenge in his title defense for the men's 800m freestyle event, hoping to improve his health before the final.
