Paris 2024 swimming: All results, as 800m freestyle champion Daniel Wiffen becomes Ireland's first male swimmer to win Olympic gold

Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen held off a late charge from American Bobby Finke to win the 800m freestyle at the Paris La Defense Arena on Tuesday 30 July at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri took third.

Wiffen set an Olympic record and won the first gold medal for Ireland at Paris 2024. He and Paltrinieri were tight and holding the lead throughout the race, with Finke coming in third. In a déjà vu moment from Tokyo 2020, Finke started picking up steam in the final 50 metres. But Wiffen held on to the lead and touched the wall first to win his first Olympic medal.

During the medal ceremony, Wiffen smiled and tried to keep his composure as he listened to the national anthem of Ireland. In the final moments, tears rolled down his face that he quickly wiped away before he posed with his fellow medallists. After the medal ceremony was over, he sprinted over to his family to give them hugs.

A first-time Olympian, Wiffen took fourth in 2023’s world championships at the 800m, then won gold in the 800m in Doha earlier this year. Beyond the pool, he also made an appearance as an extra in the infamous "Red Wedding" episode of the hit TV show “Game of Thrones.”

Wiffen’s Olympics are not over, as he is scheduled to swim in the 1500m freestyle on 3 August.

Men’s 800m freestyle podium:

Gold: Daniel Wiffen (Ireland)
Silver: Bobby Finke (USA)
Bronze: Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy)

See all the results on Olympics.com