Daniel Wiffen starred as he swam a world-leading 800m Freestyle on day two of the Irish Open Swimming Championships in front of a sold-out Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre on Sunday.

The Olympic Champion clocked 7:41.52, a new Championship Record, to lead the world rankings in 2025 so far. Wiffen’s time was just three seconds off his European and Olympic Record of 7:38.19.

“It’s amazing seeing this many people in the National Aquatic Centre,” he said after the race.

“I’ve never seen so many people at an Irish Open. I loved it, it’s great to see the crowds come out and watch Ireland’s best swimmers.”

In the 50m Freestyle Semi-Finals, Tom Fannon impressed once again with a top seeded time of 21.77, knocking one hundredth of a second off the Championship Record of 21.78 he had set in Sunday morning’s heats.

The time, which ranks Fannon fifth in the world this year, saw the Olympic semi-finalist under qualification for the World Aquatics Championships once again.

Three-time Olympian Shane Ryan will be the second seed for today’s Final of the event after he won the first semi-final in 22.30. Fifth ranked Oisin Tebite was home in 22.81, under the consideration time of 22.93 for the European Aquatics U23 Championships.

Evan Bailey set his second Championship Record of the meet and claimed the 200m Freestyle National Title in a personal best swim of 1:47.04. The National Centre Limerick swimmer knocked .04 off the time of 1:47.08 he had set in Saturday’s heats to win his first Irish Open Title. Cormac Rynn was the only other swimmer under 1.50 touching for silver in 1:49.41.

National Centre Limerick’s Ellie McCartney continued her fine form in the 100m Breaststroke Semi-Finals and is now Ireland’s second fastest ever swimmer in the event having posted a time of 1:07.00, only Mona McSharry has been faster. McCartney will take the centre lane for Monday’s Final, with McSharry, who clocked 1:07.24, second-ranked.

Larne’s Danielle Hill leads the qualifiers for Monday’s 100m Freestyle Final winning the second semi-final in 55.46 seconds. Grace Davison won the first semi-final in 56.02 seconds to progress second overall.

Competition continues Monday through to Wednesday at the Sport Ireland Campus, and Swim Ireland continues to excel with graphics on social media, keeping fans up to speed on what is happening.

 

Further Reading for Sport for Business members:

Daniel Wiffen on Surfing, World Records and More

 

 

SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

A rare chance to see such talent on their home patch in a competitive environment.  Worth taking.

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

The Championships run from 12th to 16th April at the Sport Ireland Campus

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