Wiffen sets men's 800-freestyle short course world record in Romania
Ireland's Daniel Wiffen celebrates after winning the Men's 800m Freestyle final at the LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships in Otopeni, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. Credit: AP/Alexandru Dobre
OTOPENI, Romania — Irish swimmer Daniel Wiffen set a short course world record in the 800-meter freestyle on Sunday, beating Grant Hackett's previous mark by almost three seconds.
Wiffen finished in 7 minutes, 20.46 seconds to take gold at the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Otopeni, Romania. Australia's Hackett had held the record for 15 years after swimming 7:23.42 at the Victoria Championships on July 20, 2008.
France's David Aubry was second to Wiffen in 7:30.32, and bronze went to Mykhailo Romanchuk of Ukraine in 7:31.20.
Wiffen had already won gold medals in the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle events at the championships.
