Irish Swimmer Wiffen Retires After Olympics

Irish swimmer Daniel Wiffen finished 18th in the marathon swim event at the Paris Summer Olympics, describing the experience as the "worst damn best thing I’ve ever done in my life." Competing in his first 10K open water race, Wiffen completed the event nearly 6 1/2 minutes behind gold medalist Kristóf Rasovszky of Hungary. Despite not expecting to win, Wiffen embraced the challenge, acknowledging the unique experience of participating in the Olympics. Wiffen, 23, explained that his entry into the marathon swim was made possible by his previous qualifications in shorter pool events, specifically the 800 and 1500 meters. This option allowed athletes to expand their competitive horizons without increasing the overall athlete count at the Games. However, Wiffen admitted that the marathon swim was a significant departure from his usual training and experience. The athlete candidly shared his feelings about the grueling nature of the marathon swim, labeling it as the most painful endeavor he has ever undertaken. Despite the challenges, he expressed pride in being an Olympic open water swimmer and a dual-sport athlete. Wiffen emphasized the value of the experience, even as he confirmed that this would be his last 10K race. Looking ahead, Wiffen expressed his admiration for open water swimming, predicting that it will gain popularity and recognition as one of the standout sports at the Olympics in the future.