Wiffen proud after 'first and last' open water marathon

Daniel Wiffen has said making his unfastened h2o swimming marathon debut astatine nan Paris Olympics was "probably 1 of nan worst things I've done, but besides 1 of nan best".

After winning 800 metre freestyle golden and 1500m bronze successful nan pool, Team Ireland swimmer Wiffen vanished first 10km unfastened h2o title successful a commendable 18th position, successful nether 2 hours.

The title took spot successful nan River Seine, pinch nan backdrop of nan Eiffel Tower and Grand Palais.

Wiffen joked that it would beryllium his "first and last" marathon swim, but he was "really proud" for finishing nan event, which consisted of six laps astir a 1.6km course.

The 23-year-old had nary further training for nan unfastened h2o arsenic he concentrated connected his commitments successful nan pool, which saw him go nan first Olympic champion from Northern Ireland successful 36 years erstwhile he won 800 metre golden astatine nan commencement of nan Games.

After falling distant from nan starring group, Wiffen admitted he considered dropping retired of nan title but making it to nan extremity "showed a batch of will power".

"In nan excavation it is easy erstwhile location are 8 group successful a final, and location are astir 30 group successful it here.

"I was astir 2 minutes down from nan beforehand of nan pack. I was for illustration 'do I really want to finish?', but I needed to decorativeness it and I'm gladsome to opportunity I'm an Olympic unfastened h2o swimmer."

When swimming pinch nan existent successful nan early stages of nan race, Wiffen threatened to ace nan apical 10 but dropped distant erstwhile fighting his measurement backmost up nan Seine, erstwhile he was met pinch 0.3 metres of existent per second.

"A batch of group would opportunity it's nan worst title they've ever done, successful position of nan currents.

"So for my first 1 to beryllium nan hardest and I came 18th, I'm very happy."

The marathon caps a singular Games for Wiffen, who added Olympic golden and bronze to his 2 World Championship golds from February successful Doha.

He joked that his contiguous thoughts were astir getting a massage aft a gruelling swim, and his achievements will descend successful erstwhile he returns home.

Wiffen added that he wants to transportation nan emblem astatine nan closing ceremony, thing he feels would beryllium a "class" experience.

"I'm Olympic champion, Olympic bronze medallist and placed 18th successful nan unfastened water. I couldn't person asked for thing more.

"I'm nan only double medallist [for Team Ireland], truthful it's benignant of cool. I'll possibly put it retired location that I'm hopefully carrying nan flag.

"We don't cognize yet but that's what I want."