‘I wish it had been me’ – Wiffen congratulates Finke

Daniel Wiffen had stated after Saturday’s 1500m heats that he felt he would have to swim close to the world record the next day in order to win the gold.

In the end he was right – but it was American Bobby Finke, not Wiffen, who produced a stunning swim to remove Sun Yang’s figures of 14:31.02, set in the Olympic final in London 12 years ago, from the record books

Wiffen, who took the bronze medal, was left full of admiration for what Finke achieved.

“Absolutely, that record had stood for too long and I‘m happy at least one swimmer was able to break it,” said Wiffen.

“I wish it had been me. Hats off to Bobby, he swam a great race, a great tactical race and that’s what the 1500m is all about.

“It’s about tactics, and mine were wrong today, but I mean it’s great to share the podium with two of the best ever swimmers.”

Finke took the race out from the start and along with Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri they soon broke away from the pack.

Wiffen was swimming well, and soon moved comfortably into third place but as the final couple of hundred metres approached he was making no impression.

Finke was unstoppable and when the clock stopped at 14:30.67 the crowd erupted in admiration for a new world record.

Wiffen touched the wall after Paltrinieri in 14:39.63.

“I thought coming in I was ready to win, dived in, I thought I had a great first 100 and then I thought I was in great position, ready, then I get to 300 metres and I see a leg kick in front of me, a body over head, I’m like ‘who’s that?’

“I realised it was Bobby and I was like ‘this is going to be painful’ and I was fighting, fighting and then I realised about 300 left it was just too much to catch and then I just really tried to secure my bronze medal because I was hurting a lot.”

However, there can be no disappointment with a bronze medal to add to the gold in the 800m freestyle.

“I really hope everybody sees what I’ve done this week and really looks to that as anybody can do anything.

“I was 12-years-old and said that I want to be Olympic champion and world record holder. World record holder part, not yet, but I have the Olympic champion part.

“Unbelievable, I’m only 23, who knows what’s going to happen in the future.

“I’ve got a long-term career ahead of me and to win the Olympic Games right now, I’ve achieved everything in the sport that’s possible and nothing more can be said.”

Wiffen’s Olympics isn’t over yet. On Friday he will attempt his first ever 10km open water swim and he’s already looking forward to it.

“Yeah, I can’t wait to get to the 10km honestly, I saw the triathlon, I saw that they weren’t moving with the current in the Seine and it’s going to be a great race, I’m sure, so I’m looking forward to it.”

So it’s now seven medals for athletes from Northern Ireland.

Wiffen’s bronze added to his gold and those of Hannah Scott, Rhys McClenaghan and Jack McMillan, the silver for Rebecca Shorten and bronze for Philip Doyle.

It’s been a sensational six days.