Ireland’s Daniel Whiffen broke the world record in the 800m freestyle on Sunday, the final day of the European Short Course Championships in Otopeni.

Daniel WiffenPhoto: ©INPHO/Andrea Staccioli / imago sportfotodienst / Profimedia

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Daniel Whiffen, world record holder in the 800m freestyle

Whiffen won gold with a time of 7:20.46. Frenchman David Aubry and Ukrainian Mykhailo Romanchuk completed the podium.

The previous world record dates back to July 2008, when Australia’s Grand Hackett stopped the clock at 7:23.42.

Whiffen had a dream week in Otopeni, winning the 400m freestyle and the 1500m freestyle.

Know:

  • Romania won two medals at the European Short Course Championships in Otopeni: bronze in the 100m backstroke (Andrei Ungur) and bronze in the 100m freestyle (David Popovici).
  • Two national records were also set: Darius Coman in the 100 m breaststroke (1:00.22 / in the age category 16-18 years) and Diana Stiger in the 1500 m freestyle (16:36.98 / 15-18 years) .

Romania hosted the 22nd European Junior Short Course Championships from 5 to 10 December 2023 at the Otopeni Swimming Sports Complex.