Daniel Wiffen became Ireland’s first world swimming champion in the 800m freestyle in Doha on Wednesday, while half-Irish sprinter Siobhan Haughey won Hong Kong’s first world title in the women’s 200m freestyle. obtained.
Wiffen held out for most of the race, taking the lead from Italy’s Gregorio Paltolinieri at the final corner, then running away strongly to win in 7:40.94.
The Irishman was more than two seconds better than second place Elijah Winnington of Australia, but Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Paltolinieri fell to third place.
Wiffen’s victory came two months after he broke Grant Hackett’s 15-year-old European short course world record.
Daniel Wiffen won the gold medal.Photo: Andrea Masini/Info
To cheers in the Aspire Dome pool, he gestured with his hand for a phone and slammed it down.
“Obviously my goal going into this event was to win a world medal for Ireland and be on the highest podium,” said the bespectacled 22-year-old.
“This is Ireland’s first medal at world championship level so I think it’s really great and I’m really happy.”
With last year’s world medalist from Fukuoka absent from the women’s 200m freestyle, Hoey felt the pressure to win the event, finishing nearly a second ahead of New Zealand’s runner-up Erica Fairweather. He crossed the finish line with a fast time of 1 minute 54.89 seconds.
“This means a lot to me, especially since I’ve missed the podium the last few times,” Haughey, who won silver medals in the 100m and 200m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics, told reporters.
“I’m the first [winner] I’m from Hong Kong and I hope to see more in the future. ”
Mr Hoey is the grandniece of the late Charles Hoey, former leader of Fianna Fail and three-term leader.