DANIEL WIFFEN WAS crowned a double world champion as he won the 1500m freestyle gold with a sensational performance in Sunday evening’s final in Doha.
The Magheralin man flirted with the world record for long stretches before touching in a personal best time of 14:34.07 — more than ten seconds clear of his nearest rival.
Former world champion and Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Florian Wellbrock of Germany won silver in 14:44.61, marginally ahead of France’s David Aubry who took bronze in 14:44.85.
Wiffen’s golden moment completes a remarkable week in the water for the 22-year-old, who won Ireland’s first-ever medal at the world long course championships when he clinched 800m gold on Wednesday.
He effectively led Sunday’s long-distance final from wire to wire, trailing only Kuzey Tuncelli of Turkey by the slightest margin through the opening 100m before hitting the front and quickly opening a gap on the rest of the field.
From there it quickly became a question not if Wiffen would win, but by how much, as he chased down the 11-year-old world record of 14:31.02 set by the controversial Sun Yang at the 2012 Olympics.
He ultimately finished a little over than three seconds outside that mark as he powered away to a dominant win, beating his own PB and previous Irish record of 14:34.91 that he set last summer.
“I was talking about it before with my coach, Andi [Manley, Loughborough University], and we had a little bet as well going on about if I was going to PB or not.
“[The tactic was] 100% to go out a bit faster than everybody else and just be in my own lane, swim my own race, and get out ahead and really focus on what I was going to do.”
Wiffen finished an agonising fourth in the 1500m final at last year’s world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, but Sunday’s start list did not feature any of the 2023 medallists.
Reigning Olympic champion Bobby Finke of America, and Australia’s Sam Short, both opted not to compete in Doha as they concentrate their focus on the Olympics, and defending world champion Ahmed Hafnaoui failed to make the final after flopping in Saturday’s heats.
Wiffen looked every bit the confident champion-in-waiting as he stepped out poolside ahead of the race, tapping the invisible watch on his wrist.
“Nathan, my twin, makes these up for me because we have a little brainstorm before. I mean, that one was just saying that it’s my time, it’s the moment, and just to keep going.
“I did hint at a PB maybe, that I was in that shape, and I’m just happy to perform.”
And while Sun’s world record may not have fallen to him today, Wiffen acknowledged that “it’s definitely one of my goals to try and beat that at some point.
“I’m only 22. I’ve got another at least eight years, another couple of Olympics in me.
“I’m sure it’ll go at some stage and I hope to be the person to do it.”
Earlier on Sunday, Sligo’s Mona McSharry rounded out an excellent week as she took to the blocks for her third world final, finishing eighth in the 50m breaststroke in 30.96 seconds.
And in the last Irish involvement at this year’s championships, the men’s relay team finished seventh in the 4x100m medley final in 3:35.28.
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