The Magheralin native became Ireland’s first male medallist in the pool and third overall after Michelle Smith and Mona McSharry
Daniel Wiffen made history on Tuesday night as he claimed Ireland’s first Olympic gold medal of the Paris Games with a stunning victory in the men’s 800 metres freestyle final.
While Finke took silver and Paltrineri bronze, Wiffen, who won the world title at the distance in February, was celebrating an Olympic record-winning time of seven minutes and 38.19 seconds. So, too, did Finke but Wiffen’s management of the race was paced perfectly and he had just enough to hold off the American.
Stormont First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly were among the many people to congratulate Wiffen.“Not only has he secured NI’s first Olympic gold medal in 36 years, it is also the first medal of the Games for our athletes and he set a new Olympic record. It was a fantastic performance by the @TeamIreland swimmer.”
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