Gold medalist Daniel Wiffen (C) of Ireland, silver medalist Bobby Finke (L) of the United States and bronze medalist Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy take selfies during the victory ceremony for Men's 800m Freestyle of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)
PARIS, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Swimmer Daniel Wiffen secured Ireland's first gold medal of the Paris Olympics, setting a new Olympic record en route to victory in the men's 800m freestyle final on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old surged home in the last 25 meters to touch the wall in seven minutes, 38.19 seconds, smashing Mykhailo Romanchuk's previous Games record by more than three seconds.
American Bobby Finke took silver in 7:38.75 and Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri claimed bronze in 7:39.38 at La Defense Arena.
"I always knew it [a gold medal] was going to come, I didn't know what event it was going to be in but I knew I was going to win one of them," a confident Wiffen said after the race.
"For it to be my first event is even better. I don't [know] how to sum it up, to be honest. Incredible."
Australia's Kaylee McKeown also established a new Games record as she won her second consecutive Olympic 100m backstroke title.
McKeown finished in 57.33 seconds, beating her own previous mark of 57.47 set in Tokyo three years ago. American world record holder Regan Smith took silver in 57.66 and her compatriot Katharine Berkoff claimed bronze in 57.98.
"It feels surreal to be honest with you, and I wasn't sure if I'd be any good there tonight," McKeown said after the race. "I didn't put expectations on myself, I was going to get out and enjoy the atmosphere, and that's the best you can do for yourself."
"I knew it was going to come down to the last five meters. She [Smith] pushed me the whole way through. You wait for the race and finish it, and I can't even remember it now."
In the last medal race of the evening, Britain cruised to its second consecutive Olympic men's 4x200m freestyle relay title by holding off challenges from the United States and Australia.
Britain's team of James Guy, Tom Dean, Matthew Richards and Duncan Scott led at every turn to finish in six minutes, 59.43 seconds.
The United States' combination of Luke Hobson, Carson Foster, Drew Kibler and Kieran Smith took silver, more than a second further back.
Australia's Maximillian Giuliani, Flynn Southam, Elijah Winnington and Thomas Neill claimed bronze.
"We worked very hard for this and it's nice to be rewarded with the gold medal," an elated Guy said after the race. ■
Daniel Wiffen of Ireland competes during the Men's 800m Freestyle Final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Gold medalist Kaylee McKeown of Australia shows her medal after the victory ceremony for the women's 100m backstroke of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Athletes compete during women's 100m backstroke final at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Carson Foster (R) of team USA competes during Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
James Guy of team Britain competes during Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
Duncan Scott (top) of team Britain competes during Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
Gold medalists team Britain poses for a group photo after the victory ceremony for the men's 4x200m freestyle relay of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Ji Xinjie of team China dives into the pool during the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Yang Junxuan of China competes during Women's 100m Freestyle Semifinal of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
Dong Zhihao of China dives into the pool during Men's 200m Breaststroke Semifinal of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Siobhan Bernadette Haughey of China's Hong Kong is seen before the women's 100m freestyle semifinals of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
This photo taken on July 28, 2024 shows Leon Marchand (L) of France competes during the men's 400m individual medley final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Gold medalists team Britain (in white), silver medalists team USA (in blue) and bronze medalists team Australia pose for pictures during the victory ceremony for Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)
Matthew Richards of team Britain dives into the pool during Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)
Athletes of team China react before Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Kaylee McKeown of Australia celebrates after the women's 100m backstroke final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)
Gold medalist Kaylee McKeown (C) of Australia, silver medalist Regan Smith (L) of the United States and bronze medalist Katharine Berkoff of the United States pose for photos after the victory cereomy for Women's 100m Backstroke of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Daniel Wiffen of Ireland celebrates after the men's 800m freestyle final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
