Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen struggles in World Championships 800m Final: ‘It wasn't my best showing'
Irish swimmer led after 300 metres, but was soon reeled in before his title defence faded away.
Wiffen's preparations for the World Championships were hindered by a bout of appendicitis.
After the race, Wiffen said: "It obviously wasn't my best showing, from last year winning the Olympics to being eighth in the final.
"Honestly, I'm happy to be in the final and still progressing. It wasn't my best showing but I was happy to be in the final."
Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi took the gold medal with a time of 7:36.88, ahead of the German pair of Sven Schwartz and Lukas Martens. Wiffen finished last with a time of 7:58.56.
Wiffen's focus now moves to his 1500m Freestyle title defence, with the heats set for Saturday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Lions star Bundee Aki reveals he missed arrival of his daughter during Australia tour after wife gave birth in a CAR
Aki admitted he played poorly in the defeat to Australia YOU'RE KIDDING Lions star Bundee Aki reveals he missed arrival of his daughter during Australia tour after wife gave birth in a CAR Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BUNDEE AKI has revealed he became a dad again during the Lions' series win in Australia — with his wife giving birth in a car. The Irish centre held his hands up on his shocker in Sydney on Saturday in a 22-12 defeat, which saw the tourists miss the chance of a Wallaby whitewash. 3 Bundee Aki's wife has given birth to a daughter Credit: Instagram 3 Aki now has five children Credit: Instagram After the Lions failed to clinch a series clean sweep, Aki then announced he had become a father for the fifth time two weeks ago. The 35-year-old has yet to meet new daughter Aine, who was born in the build-up to the opening Test win in Brisbane. Wife Kayla was in New Zealand with family when she got in touch to say she was ready to give birth before he helped the Lions to a 27-19 triumph. Aki recalled: 'Credit to my wife. She's a powerful woman. I was in the hotel in Brisbane and I knew we were overdue. READ MORE IN SPORT 'BEAUTIFUL' Lando Norris' girlfriend Margarida Corceiro shows off sideboob in risque outfit 'The missus calls me and she's like, 'My waters haven't broken but I'm going to the hospital, I'm feeling contractions'. 'Five minutes later, her waters broke. I was like, 'Are you almost there?' This is like 40 minutes away from the hospital, so I said, 'You'll be all right, Mum is there'. 'Ten minutes later, she video calls me and I was like, 'S**t, what's going on?' I saw a baby on the video call, so she had it in the car. 'They're both healthy. I knew it was good juju and we were going to have a good day.' BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK All of Aki's kids have first names starting with the letter A — Armani-Jane, Adrianna, Andronicus, Ailbhe and now, Aine. But their old man admitted he put in nothing close to an A-star performance in Sydney as the Lions were mauled in a monsoon. The game was suspended after half-time for 38 minutes due to lightning, with the Aussies 8-0 up through Dylan Pietsch's try and a penalty. Finn Russell was spotted in the dressing room flicking through his phone and Aki had his feet up on a bean bag before play resumed. But the Wallabies struck twice after the delay to get the victory. Aki had his worst game in an international shirt but fronted up. He said: 'I wasn't great. It was a poor game but you have those days and you have to live with it. 'We won the series and that's all we came for. 'Now, I want to enjoy my break. I haven't seen my family for eight weeks. I have a newborn child I haven't met yet.' Australia got it over the line thanks to a turbo-charged display from lock Will Skelton, who was on the wind-up all match, and second-half tries from Max Jorgensen and Tate McDermott. Jac Morgan and Will Stuart crossed to give the Lions some consolation — but Skelton had shown the Aussies the way. Wallabies scrum-half Nic White said: 'For once, someone stood up to them.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Dina Asher-Smith set sights on World Championship success in Tokyo after defending British title in photo finish
Dina Asher-Smith tuned up for Tokyo by defending her British 200 metres title — but only after a dramatic photo finish. The 29-year-old set a UK Athletics Championships record of 22.14sec to win in Birmingham on Sunday and seal her spot at next month's World Championships in Japan. However, Asher-Smith was pushed all the way by Amy Hunt, who finished fast to clock the same time as her more established team-mate and set a huge personal best. 'It was an excellent race,' said Asher-Smith, who is back training in London after a brief stint in Texas. 'Neither of us knew who had won so we needed that photo finish. But I am happy to come here and run a fantastic time.' Asher-Smith finished fourth in the 200m at last summer's Paris Olympics, but her time yesterday would have been good enough for bronze. Asked whether she can win a second world 200m title next month, six years after her only global gold in Doha, she said: 'I would love that. I am in great shape. 'That was a great run from me and there are a few things in there I can tweak, so I am happy.' Hunt finished second ahead of Daryll Neita — who was fifth at last year's Olympics — and moves above her to third in the all-time British rankings. 'I couldn't quite get the dip on the line but that was a serious time,' said the 23-year-old, who won the 100m on Saturday. 'I have moved up to third on the UK all-time, nearly overtaking Kathy Cook. It is really exciting to be taking the step up. Going to Tokyo and being a dark horse is super exciting.' In the men's 200m, Zharnel Hughes also broke the championship record as he stormed home in 19.90sec to complete a UK sprint double after his 100m win on Saturday. 'I'm excited to see what I can do in Tokyo,' said Britain's fastest man. 'I can go a lot faster. My coach will get me much sharper. There's still over a month to go.' Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell won the women's 800m yesterday, beating Jemma Reekie in a time of 1min 59.53sec. She must now decide whether to run both the 800m — which would put her up against her training partner Keely Hodgkinson — and 1500m in Tokyo, or focus on only one of the events. 'How cool would it be to follow in the footsteps of the great Britons like Seb Coe, Kelly Holmes and Steve Cram who doubled up and were successful?' said Hunter Bell. 'It's hard to decide.' Josh Kerr, who was already assured of his place in Tokyo as the world 1500m champion, stepped up in distance yesterday to win the men's 5,000m.
Belfast Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Captain pays tribute to collective effort as Waringstown breeze past Holywood to net Women's Senior Challenge Cup
The Irish international got her side back on track after they lost the wickets of Amy Caulfield and Charlotte Lyons inside the first eight balls of the game after electing to bat first on winning the toss. Murray counter-attacked, hitting six boundaries in a thrilling 43 from just 31 balls, adding 65 in nine overs for the third wicket with Abbi Harrison (20). The game swung again when the duo and Naomi Matthews fell in quick succession to leave the contest evenly poised at 102 for five. Skipper Sophie Hinds was then joined in the middle by Kiwi Abigaile Gerken, and the pair shared a match-defining partnership of 100 from only 75 balls as the total went over 200 and beyond. Gerken top-scored with 45 (five fours), while Hinds also missed out on a half-century, hitting seven boundaries in a fluent 34-ball 42. Holywood didn't help their cause with an erratic bowling effort that saw them concede 53 extras – 28 of them wides and no-balls – as well as nine penalty runs for a slow over rate. Nina Kerr picked up four wickets, but a total of 240 for seven – a Final record – was always going to be an uphill battle for the Seapark side. Madison Landsman did her best to keep Holywood in contention, dominating an opening stand of 51 with Eva Cupitt (six). Irish international Lara Maritz struck a few lusty blows, but when she sliced Lyons to third man for 16, Holywood's chances diminished severely. Landsman, a South African-born Netherlands international, went on top-score with an even-time 59 (five fours), but her dismissal saw the game come to a rapid conclusion with Holywood losing seven wickets for just 20 runs – all out for 115 in 26 overs. Murray claimed four wickets to make the Player of the Match award a formality, while former skipper Lyons claimed three scalps and young left-arm spinner Penny Speer two. 'We've been pretty confident batting first this season, so I had no hesitation in batting first,' said Hinds after the match. 'I looked at our team and saw that they could bat right down the order. The fact that the Cup is 30 overs meant we prepared a little differently, but a lot of our squad is used to longer matches with representative sides. 'The ground was in great shape today, super job from the ground staff, and 240 was a really brilliant effort from the team.' Captain Hinds paid tribute to all her team, especially the impact of the return of Murray from international commitments that meant they were at full strength for the clash. 'It was certainly great to have Cara back in the side along with Abbi Harrison and also Abigaile Gerken, who has come over from New Zealand. They gave us real quality and depth and we showed today just what we can do,' she said. The teams are also battling for the Premiership title, and leaders Waringstown will have the chance to complete the double when they meet at second-placed Holywood in two weeks' time.
