Daniel Wiffen emotionally expressed on RTÉ, how the playing of the Irish national anthem moved him to shed tears, despite hearing it more frequently than most individuals. It was a touching scene to have his family present during his victories this season, where he’s won six times already. His brother, Nathan, plays a significant role in his success, showing up at every event. As a token of his gratitude for his brother’s support, which unfortunately couldn’t be extended to this event, Wiffen managed to secure an Olympic medal. Fate had them both aware of the victory ahead but seeing it come to pass was the real exhilaration.
He urged Ireland to keep their eyes peeled as their journey for the week wasn’t over. A family selfie to capture this memorable moment was in order, snapped by Wiffen’s brother Nathan.
Ian O’Riordan encapsulated the moment in a snapshot: Ireland’s swimming sensation, Daniel Wiffen, is elevated to the title of Olympic champion after clinching an 800m swimming gold medal in Paris’s grand event.
A proud moment for Wiffen and his family, which saw a release of a few more tears from the champion. Playing of the national anthem – Amhrán na bhFiann – never fails to inspire a heartfelt response from Wiffen.
During the medal ceremony, Wiffen relayed his experience to Olympic Ireland: He expressed the doubts others harboured about him claiming victory, but he proved them wrong. He confessed how his nerves were quelled by the encouraging shout from his brother as he made his entry into the venue, amidst the roaring crowd. The determination kept him from falling prey to getting ‘Finked’, aggressive competition slang, and he emerged a winner, elated to have touched the wall before his competitors.
An enthusiastic appreciation of his triumph was illustrated in the words of Andrew Bree when he stated ‘lights, camera, action’. This was Wiffen’s own ‘quote-unquote’ historical breakthrough victory.
Sarah Keane from Ireland will have the honour of awarding the medals, marking another delightful occasion in the books.
In the semi-finals of the 100m freestyle, Siobhan Haughey, the grandniece of Charlie, once again made her mark. Her victory secured her a favourable lane for the final.
On RTÉ, Daniel Wiffen expressed his gratitude, saying, “I owe it all to my family, I didn’t feel alone out there! I had my eye on Finke the entire time, continuously glancing at Bobby Finke, but I preserved my strength for the last 50 metres, something I’ve been training for throughout the year. On looking again, I realised I had triumphed.
“So far, I’ve bagged every win. World champion, European champion and Olympics. I can confidently claim that I am one of the greatest ever.”
An absolutely exceptional race! Even more nail-biting than perhaps he anticipated, with an extra burst of speed in the last 50 metres.
Wiffen clocked 7:38.19, setting a remarkable Olympic record and personal best. The fifth fastest time in history. Simply staggering.
An exciting climax took place here among Wiffen, Paltrinieri, Wiffen and Finke! With just 50m to go, the gap was a mere 0.10. Wiffen surged ahead, took the lead with only 25 metres left, and despite Finke’s attempt, the lead was Wiffen’s!
IRELAND STRIKES GOLD! Daniel Wiffen sets an OLYMPIC RECORD! The final standings – Wiffen in the first place, followed by Finke and Paltrinieri.
After 700m, Paltrinieri was in the lead while Wiffen trailed by 0.78.
600m in, Wiffen just held on to the lead! Paltrinieri made his move and secured the second place. A gripping competition, with just 0.01 separating them.
400m down, Wiffen claimed the lead by a slender margin of 0.07, with Finke on his heels and Winnington slipping.
At the 300m mark, Wiffen overtook Jaqouadi after a strong start by Winnington. Wiffen was merely 0.79 behind the leader, and Finke moved to third.
100m into the race, Winnington was in the lead with Wiffen in third place, 1.19 behind.
Daniel Wiffen walks in with a self-assured demeanour, engaged in a hand-writing gesture. Set and raring to go! Australia’s Kaylee McKeown triumphs in the 100m women’s breaststroke, setting an awe-inspiring Olympic record, and leaving behind two American competitors.
The lane allotments are as follows:
Lane 1 – De Tullio
Lane 2 – Bobby Finke
Lane 3 – Gregorio Paltrinieri
Lane 4 – Daniel Wiffen
Lane 5 – Ahmed Jaqouadi
Lane 6 – Elijah Winnington
Lane 7 – Sven Schwarz
Lane 8 – David Aubry
Wiffen’s final swimming race is planned to commence at 8.07pm.
Here’s a summary of how the final lineup for the 800m freestyle was formed:
Daniel Wiffen from Ireland clocked in at 7:41:53
Ahmed Jaqouadi from Tunisia at 7:42.07
Gregorio Paltrinieri from Italy at 7:42.48
Elijah Winnington from Australia at 7:42.86
Bobby Finke from the United States at 7:43:00
Sven Schwarz from Germany at 7:43.67
Luca de Tullio from Italy at 7:44:07
David Aubry from France at 7:44:59
A yardstick set by Zhang Lin in 2009 with a world record time of 7:32:12. Wiffen stands ninth in the fastest timings ever with 7:39:19.
Bobby Finke, in the year 2021, snatched the gold with a time of 7:41:53, defeating Paltrinieri.
In a stunning victory, Team USA clinched the gold in the gymnastics team event, while Italy bagged the silver and Brazil returned with a bronze.
Undeniably a contemporary Olympics powerhouse, Biles has been praised by Ian O’Riordan along with another legend – Daniel Wiffen. Swimming legend Michael Phelps has expressed faith in Wiffen’s potential victory. He’s looking forward to a resounding close to the team event, with Simone Biles performing last in her remarkable style!
Coming up in less than sixty minutes – Daniel Wiffen in the 800m freestyle. His qualification into the final and victory at the world championship earlier this year sets the stage for a promising gold medal win. If accomplished, this would mark only the 12th time that Ireland has won gold, and merely the second gold for swimming.
The women’s gymnastics team event is currently taking place, featuring the star performer Simone Biles for the United States. The USA is also celebrating their achievement of third place in Rugby Sevens, after defeating Australia in the match for the bronze medal. Despite expectations, Australia failed to secure a medal after their loss to Canada and USA, despite their earlier win over Ireland.
In the event of men’s single kayak heats, Noel Hendrick secured a 19th place finish post two rounds, thus qualifying for the semi-finals on Thursday. The 26-year-old improved his initial timing of 98.64 to a commendable 90.68 in the final round.
Earlier, the women’s slalom C1 event witnessed Michaela Corcoran clinching the 21st position. Her timings were 129.55 in the opening run and 168.08 in her second attempt.
Rugby Sevens saw Ireland losing to Great Britain 28-12 in the women’s sevens, marking their completion of the tournament in the eighth place.
In a closely fought encounter, Stadelmann triumphed, having seized five consecutive points making the score 20-15. Despite a few errors from Darragh, Stadelmann managed another point making it 21-15, thereby winning the round.
The intense match saw several lead changes. The score levelled at 15-15, 10-10, and then again at 21-21. Despite their best efforts, Darragh was unable to maintain their lead of 8-5 and 9-7. However, neck and neck once again at 21-21, Stadelmann claimed the match with a final score of 24-22. The competition showed immense tenacity with both players battling hard.
In a fantastic show of skill, Darragh managed to recover from a 18-16 deficit, quickly equalling the score at 18-18. A significant move by Darragh at 19-18 has the potential to greatly affect the match, with Stadelmann hitting long to keep it a close game at 19-19. Now David Gorman is set to keep you informed, taking over.
Rachael Darragh, in her Badminton match, has emerged victorious in the first set, beating Jenjira Stadelmann from Switzerland. She had a tough time in the second set, struggling to keep up, but has levelled the game at 16-16!
David Gorman will continue providing updates on the blog for the afternoon activities which includes the Canoe Slalom, Rugby Sevens and Badminton, apart from giving insights on Daniel Wiffen’s medal race later tonight.
In sailing, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove’s performance in the Olympic men’s Skiff has been commendable. They landed fourth in the seventh race, thirteenth in the eighth and ninth in the final race. This has allowed them to hold on to their second position in the overall standings from yesterday’s events.
In Rugby, Canada has progressed to the women’s Sevens gold medal match at the Paris Olympics, overruling second-ranked Australia with a thrilling 21-12 triumph. This victory for the Canadians, who also emerged victorious against France in the quarterfinals, came with tries from Charity Williams, Asia Hogan-Rochester and Piper Logan.
The highly-ranked New Zealand overpowered United States 24-12 in the other semifinal encounter. Ireland, who had previously been bested 19-7 by France, is next facing GB at 5.0pm, Irish time for the seventh and eighth placement.
Ireland continues its athletic venture with the much-anticipated Equestrian event.
Abigail Lyle competed in her inaugural Olympic Dressage Individual Grand Prix on the stunning grounds of the Palace of Versailles, riding her 13-year-old horse Giraldo, also affectionately referred to as ‘Arty’. Despite a stellar score of 69.441, and a sixth-place rank in her category, unfortunately, it wasn’t adequate for her to make it to the individual final.
Lyle and ‘Arty’ delivered an almost perfect display during their performance, and even though she could not progress to the final, the Bangor equestrian expressed immense satisfaction with her horse’s performance. Lyle expressed that her expectations had been surpassed in the magnificent arena. She wanted the horse to excel and be content, a goal she felt that they have achieved.
Reflecting on her emotional journey leading up to the event, Lyle referred to her strong support system, which included her outstanding equine partner. She was satisfied with their overall performance. There was a slight hiccup in executing the halt, but she found the overall content of the test fulfilling.
In the wake of the morning activities, here’s the Irish team’s concise summary:
ROWING
Philip Doyle from Belfast and Daire Lynch from Clonmel are through to the Men’s Double (M2x) final after demonstrating exceptional performances in their respective semi-finals. The Irish team is leading heading into the final, having clocked a time of 6:13.14.
Lynch notes that the duo had anticipated a strong showing but also acknowledged the element of uncertainty regarding other competing nations’ performances. Despite this, their time leading up to the event had been fruitful. He remains optimistic about transferring this positive momentum into the final.
Doyle imparted, “Our plan was executed exactly as intended. As expected, a few competitors started ahead with intense speed. We knew if these participants rushed and made hasty moves, they would eventually pay for it. Our focus now is not to let the six competitors in the finale have too much leeway, following which we will make headway once again.”
Thursday morning is marked for the chief event where Doyle and Lynch will challenge current world champions from Netherlands, Spain, Romania, New Zealand, and the United States in the bid for the medals.
The Women’s Double team, composed of Zoe Hyde and Alison Bergin, unfortunately fell short of securing a spot in the medal race after they failed to secure a top three position in today’s semi-final. They landed the fifth spot, pushing them into the B Final where they will compete for ranks 7-12.
Bergin expressed disappointment saying, “We’ve prepared for this moment for a long time and we are saddened by the results. However, we look forward to our next opportunity. We’ll re-evaluate, study the race, and devise a fresh strategy for the subsequent day.”
The Women’s Four team, headed by Emily Hegarty, Natalie Long, Eimear Lambe and Imogen Magner, also missed a slot in the final after ranking fourth in the repechage. With only two boats to make it to the final, Ireland will now compete for ranks 7-12 on Thursday.
In boxing news, Jennifer Lehane from Meath met a highly seasoned Chinese boxer during her first Olympic 54kg match and unfortunately, she conceded a 5-0 defeat to Yuan Chang in the round 16. Although defeated, the Ashbourne native quoted, “This experience will only inspire me further.” Notably, Lehane has been boxing internationally only recently after transitioning from elite Taekwondo five years prior.
The 25-year-old female competitor confessed that although the initial round was a tight race and she achieved a trend of comfort in the consecutive one, the opponent demonstrated superior performances. Chang, marked by impressively swift punches, reigned supreme in every round, which was reflected in a unanimous 5:0 verdict from the judges. Despite the intense competition, the Irish sportswoman stayed resilient till the final blow of the bell, uplifted by the chants of her name by her travelling fans.
For her, the prospect of battling in front of a large gathering, never experienced before, and fighting in such a grandiose venue was an awe-inspiring journey. Upon hearing the immense support resonate through the crowd, she expressed her deep gratitude for this unforgettable moment. Adding to her joy was the presence of her family who flew in to cheer her on, and the support she received from her hometown of Ashbourne and her previous workplace, St Mary’s school. She hoped that her endeavours would serve as an inspirational source for the following generations to chase their dreams.
The sportswoman, Lehane, who took a break from her profession as a primary school teacher to immerse herself in fulltime training with Ireland’s cream of the crop boxers, expressed a desire to continue following this course along with some intermittent substitute teaching duties.
Switching the theme to hockey, Ireland’s Men’s Hockey Team experienced a setback in their match against the Olympic bronze medalists from Tokyo, India, by succumbing to a 2-0 defeat. The top scorer from the Indian side, Harmanpreet Singh, struck twice in the first half, providing his team with an early lead in the game conducted at the renowned Yves-du-Manoir Stadium. Despite the Irish side staging several scoring attempts, India, currently fifth in the world ranking, defended their position resiliently, thereby clinically executing their victory. The Irish team, managed by Mark Tumilty, is now awaiting their next clash with Argentina, postponed to Thursday at 12.15 pm Irish time, and the finale Pool stage against New Zealand on Friday at 4.0 pm, Irish time.
Moving on to Men’s Kayak, after the first eight contestants of the first two runs, Noel Hendrik secures a place in the third position. He had ten penalty points assigned to him due to the collision with five gates. His second run has been delayed to the evening.
Finally in the arena of Rugby, the Women’s Sevens semi-final witnesses New Zealand beating the USA by 24 to 12. With this triumph, the Olympic titleholders are a stride away from defending their champion title.
In the men’s Skiff class Olympic regatta, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove deftly secured a fourth place in race seven, situating their Irish team in the second position overall.
In women’s Rugby Sevens semi-final, New Zealand managed a narrow win against USA with 7-5. Subsequently, France claimed a victory over Ireland with a full-time score of 19-7, despite Ireland’s 7-0 lead in the first half thanks to Eve Higgins’ try. The defeat left Ireland to compete for seventh and eighth places, taking on GB, who emerged victorious in their initial tournament encounter.
With only two minutes left in the game, France superseded Ireland with a score of 14-7. France scored a converted try just four minutes prior to the end, levelling the ground at 7-7.
The hockey match between Ireland and India ended 2-0 in favour of the latter. Although Ireland improved their game in the second half, their unenergetic initial 30 minutes and inability to convert any of the 10 penalty corners cast a shadow on their performance. They will play their final two matches later this week.
The Irish women’s Sevens led 7-0 at half-time against France, owing to Railway Union’s Eve Higgins, who continued her scoring streak with a try and conversion. However, an earlier loss to Australia left them competing for spots in the fifth and sixth team playoff.
In the Canoe Slalom, 21-year-old Michaela Corcoran incurred a penalty of ten seconds after hitting five gates in her initial C1 class run.
In the second half of the hockey match, despite an enhanced performance, the Irish team struggled to score against India. An exceptional scoring opportunity was missed by Ben Walker who misdirected a shot, leaving his open teammate, John McKee, unutilised.
Hockey has seen some intense action today, with Ireland trailing 2-0 to India at the 44 minute mark. Despite efforts from Lee Cole and two penalty corners, Ireland just couldn’t manage to get on the scoreboard; however, they did manage to up their game in the third quarter. At half-time, the scoreboard remained unchanged with India still leading 2-0.
Commenting on the game, Indian team captain Harmanpreet Singh, scorer of both goals for India, notes the scorching temperatures at Stade Yves du Manoir – a condition that would only amplify Ireland’s struggle to equalise. Irish head coach Mark Tumilty gave his hockey team some words of inspiration, reminding them they were playing for their nation and urging them to be action-oriented and energised on the field.
Away from hockey, the sporting world is celebrating Siobhán Haughey, grandniece of ex-Irish Taoiseach Charlie Haughey, as she become the first athlete from Hong Kong to secure three Olympic medals. Haughey achieved this feat after winning a bronze medal in the women’s 200-metre freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Congratulatory messages poured in, including one from Irish Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who hailed it as a remarkable achievement and a day of pride for the Haughey clan.
In earlier action, Ireland found the going tough against Olympic bronze medalists India in hockey. From the opening minutes, Ireland struggled to get past their half, repeatedly conceding fouls to an aggressive Indian side. The Indian team executed an early strike just 11 minutes into the match, turning an Irish penalty into victory with a goal by Harmanpreet Singh. The first quarter ended with India leading 1-0.
In a recent boxing match, Irish boxer Jennifer Lehane praised her challenger, Yuan Chang from China, for her superior skill and technique. Despite her lost, Lehane remained optimistic about her future in the sport and felt grateful for the supportive crowd. Lehane got off to a trouble start, losing the first round but began the second round with more confidence and improved footwork. Nevertheless, Chang, a two-time Asian Games champion, won the judges with her powerful punches and impressive use of the ring.
In other news, an animated graphic of Irish swimmer Ellen Walshe was discovered while waiting for Lehane’s match. Lehane was originally an Ashbourne schoolteacher who got an opportunity in the 54kg boxing division after receiving a bye.
An interview with Mona McSharry, Ireland’s Olympic bronze medalist, was also shared for those who missed it.
Switching sports, Denis Walsh reported from the rowing event. He commended Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch for securing a place in the men’s double sculls final after a close battle against the American and New Zealand teams. He added that Zoe Hyde and Alison Bergin placed fifth in the women’s double sculls semi-finals, while the women’s four team came fourth in their repechage.
The Olympic final is on the horizon for two Irish duos. The Irish team, consisting of Emily Hegarty, Eimear Lambe, Natalie Long, and Imogen Magner ended up in fourth place in their repechage race. Despite keeping pace with America and China for the most of the race, they faltered towards the end, allowing the Danes to surpass them in the last 50 meters.
The same crew ranked third in a previous track of 1,000 metres. Their goal was to secure one of the top two spots in their Repechage race and advance to the final of the Olympics.
Also making their way to the Olympic final are Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch, exceptional winners of their semi-final for men’s double sculls. They showcased incredible talent and composure throughout the race.
The team from Ireland, ranked second after 1,000 metres and third after 500 metres, showed immense promise. Doyle and Lynch had previously demonstrated their prowess in the heat, making them one to look out for in the men’s semi-final-double sculls.
In Rugby, the women’s Sevens team from Ireland was set to compete against France. Their earlier defeat in the quarter-finals led them to vie for fifth to eighth positions in two matches. With their captain, Lucy Rock, already out due to an earlier tournament injury, and the possible depletion of Béibhinn Parsons, the Irish contingent had an uphill task against the French in the afternoon.
Moreover, another Irish crew comprising Zoe Hyde from Tralee and Alison Bergin from Fermoy, finished in the fifth position in the women’s double sculls. Despite trailing in the second 500 metres, the sporadic loopholes never really let them get a firm grip on the competition. The winners were from New Zealand, followed by the Netherlands and France. Interestingly though, the Irish team had bested both the Kiwi and French crews in the world championships last year, where they had achieved fourth place.
In the Women’s Double Sculls at the rowing event, Zoe Hyde and Alison Bergin have held onto fifth place through the 500 and 1000 metre stages. They must secure a position in the top three to proceed to the Olympic final.
Over in sailing, at the midway point of the Men’s skiff event at the Paris Olympic regatta in Marseilles, Dublin’s Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove stand second. Thanks to previous fourth and second place finishes, they were leading overall before the conclusion of yesterday’s final race.
They finished the day’s third race in eighth position. The light winds receded allowing Isaac Kale McHardie and William McKenzie from New Zealand to claim their third race victory, placing them in the overall lead.
The Irish team retain a nine-point advantage over their closest rivals; Spain’s Diego Botin le Chever and Florian Trittel Paul. They face three more races today.
DAY 4 SCHEDULE
Note: All times listed are in Irish time which is one hour behind Paris.
Starting at 9.50am with the Rowing, Women’s Double Sculls (W2-) semi-final 1 of 2, Zoe Hyde & Alison Bergin. Only the top three will move on to the final.
The Men’s Double Sculls (M2x) rowing semi-final 2 of 2, will see Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch in action, with only the leading trio set to proceed to the final. This takes place at 10.20. At 10.30, the Women’s Four (W4-) rowing repechage takes place, featuring Emily Hegarty, Natalie Long, Eimear Lambe, and Imogen Magner. Only the top two teams will advance to the final. At 11.36, it’s the turn of Jenny Lehane, who will face Yuan Chang (CHN) in the Women’s 54kg Round of 16 boxing bout. The men’s hockey will see Ireland face India in Pool B at 12.15pm.
At 1.38, Abigail Lyle is competing in the Equestrian Individual Dressage Grand Prix qualification. Following this, at 2.00pm, Michaela Corcoran will compete in the first run of the Women’s Canoe Slalom (C1) and the Women’s Rugby Sevens 5-8 placings match, Ireland vs France, will also commence. At 5.00 or 5.30, the final placing match for Women’s Rugby Sevens will be determined.
Meanwhile, the first run of Men’s Canoe Slalom (K1) will begin at 3.00 featuring Noel Hendrick. Subsequently, at 3.35, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove will compete in the seventh race of Men’s Skiff Sailing. At 4.10 Michaela Corcoran will perform the second run of the Women’s Canoe Slalom (C1). On the other hand, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove will also participate in the eighth and ninth races of Men’s Skiff Sailing, beginning at 4.27 and 5.19 respectively.
Later on, or around 4.30, Rachael Darragh, an Olympian debutant from Donegal, will compete in the Women’s Singles Badminton against Jenjira Stadelmann of Switzerland in Group L. Darragh, who is the niece of thrice Irish Olympian badminton player Chloe Magee, currently ranks 82 in the world. Lastly, Daniel Wiffen will participate in the Men’s 800m Freestyle Swimming finals at 8.02.
Liam Jegou’s exceptional performance ensured a seventh-place finish in the C1 final yesterday. Consequently, his canoe slalom compatriots, Michaela Corcoran and Noel Hendrick, are set to commence their participation in the 2024 Olympic Games with the first and second runs of the Men’s K1 and Women’s C1 respectively.
Meanwhile, the Irish men’s hockey team is on the brink of a win-or-bust scenario, albeit not in the literal sense. Following their losses to Belgium (2-0) and Australia (2-1) yesterday, they need to put up an impressive performance like they did in the second quarter against Australia when they face off with India, who clinched a bronze in Tokyo, at 12.15.
In the sport of Equestrian, Abigail Lyle is all set for her Olympic debut in the Individual Grand Prix Dressage, riding Giraldo at the scenic Palace of Versailles. As Ireland’s sole dressage competitor, she hopes to secure a spot in the Individual Final (Freestyle to Music). The top two contenders from each group along with the six competitors with the next most impressive scores (ties inclusive) will move on to the Individual Final (Grand Prix Freestyle).
John O’Sullivan, who’s fully refreshed and ready for action, wishes you a very good morning.
Following the historical achievement of Mona McSharry winning the bronze medal last night, Daniel Wiffen, Ireland’s double world champion, will work towards securing his first Olympic medal in the 800m freestyle final. Based on yesterday’s heats, the fastest contender for the finals is the man from Armagh with an impressive record of 7:41.53.
Tomorrow morning sees the return of three Irish rowing teams, determined to secure their places in their respective finals. To ensure their spots in the final, the men’s and women’s doubles teams must aim for a top-three finish in their semi-finals, while a close first or second place finish is required for the women’s four in their event’s repechage.
Malachy Clerkin mentioned that Zoe Hyde and Alison Bergin will participate in the women’s double sculls at 9.50am. Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch, the lads engaging in men’s double sculls had quite an impressive performance among the Irish teams in the initial run. Notably, they achieved the quickest time in their event, even as they reduced their effort in the latter part of the race to save energy for future rounds.
In the field of boxing, Jennifer Lehane, a primary school teacher from Ashbourne, earned a direct entry into the final 16 of the 54kg category. Today she is pitched against Yuan Chang of China, a champion of the Asian Games, twice. Exceptionally, Lehane has paused her teaching profession to become the maiden Irish female Olympic entrant in the bantamweight category, a dream coming true as she makes her debut in the Games.
A follow-up from yesterday’s 60kg matches determined Kellie Harrington’s quarter-final opponent. She will be competing against Paola Angie Valdas Pana, the 2023 World silver medallist from Colombia on the evening of Wednesday. Pana got qualified to this level after winning against Donjeta Sadiku of Kosovo by a split decision of 3-2.