2022 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- June 18-25, 2022 (pool swimming)
- Budapest, Hungary
- Duna Arena
- LCM (50-meter format)
- Full Aquatics Schedule
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In the prelims of the men’s 800 free, Daniel Wiffen wreaked havoc on his old Irish record time of 7:50.74, swimming a 7:46.32 to secure himself a spot in the finals. He becomes the first Irish swimmer to final in this event. With his time today, Wiffen now holds the ten fastest Irish performances in the history of the men’s 800 free.
All-Time Top Irish Performances, Men’s 800 Free:
- Daniel Wiffen – 7:46.32 (2022)
- Daniel Wiffen – 7:50.74 (2022)
- Daniel Wiffen – 7:51.65 (2021)
- Daniel Wiffen – 7:52.68 (2021)
- Daniel Wiffen – 7:55.02 (2021)
Wiffen has broken the Irish record four times in his career. First, he took down Andrew Meegan‘s mark of 8:05.30 from 2013 when he swam a 7:52.68 at the Irish National team trial last year. He then proceeded to go 7:51.65 at the Olympics, finishing 14th overall. Then, he went on to set his 7:50.74 record at the 2022 Stockholm Open, before dropping even more time at Worlds.
The biggest difference between Wiffen’s previous and current record is how much faster he’s gotten on the back half of the race. While he got progressively slower after every 100 at the Stockholm Open (besides on his final 100), he nearly even split his race at Worlds in 3:53.37/3:53.48 and closed in a 27.81 last 50. In addition, he got faster on every 100 after the 300-meter mark this time around.
| Daniel Wiffen, 2022 World Championships (New Irish Record) | Daniel Wiffen, 2022 Stockholm Open (Old Irish Record) | |
| 100m | 56.90 | 56.98 |
| 200m | 58.56 | 59.17 |
| 300m | 59.09 | 59.11 |
| 400m | 58.82 | 59.30 |
| 500m | 58.93 | 59.15 |
| 600m | 58.82 | 59.47 |
| 700m | 58.78 | 59.76 |
| 800m | 56.95 | 57.80 |
| T0tal | 7:46.32 | 7:50.74 |
Headed into the finals of the 800 free, Wiffen sits at the fifth seed, one place ahead of Olympic champion Bobby Finke. If Wiffen near-even split race is a sign that he has more in the tank for the finals, we could be in for something big.