Weak’ Wiffen fights through to World Aquatics final after battling through a tough 800m freestyle heat at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Still recovering from appendicitis, Wiffen didn’t look his usual self in the pool but managed to grab the final qualifying spot, finishing eighth overall with a time of 7:46.36.
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A Struggle in the Water
Wiffen appeared clearly out of form during his heat on Tuesday morning. He finished fifth in his race and had to endure a tense wait as the rest of the heats played out. When the final results came in, he had just made the cut for Wednesday’s final—earning an outside lane in the process.
Battling More Than Just the Clock
After the race, Wiffen admitted he wasn’t happy with how things went. “Obviously pretty disappointed with the overall swim,” he said, “but we’ve got a lane, so we’ve got a chance to defend my title.” The Irish swimmer, who won the title earlier this year at the World Championships in Doha, added that he’s feeling extremely weak and doesn’t quite know what’s going wrong yet. “I felt it in the 400 and now again in the 800. I just need to figure it out and fix it before tomorrow night.”
Other Irish Swimmers in Action
Elsewhere, Jack Cassin from the National Centre Limerick posted a personal best time of 1:57.04 in the 200m butterfly but it wasn’t enough to get him into the semi-finals. He placed eighth in his heat and fell short of qualification.
A Quiet Evening for Team Ireland
There will be no Irish swimmers in action during Tuesday’s evening session, but fans can look forward to more competition on Wednesday. Ellen Walshe, Danielle Hill, and Evan Bailey are all set to hit the water in what promises to be another exciting day for Team Ireland in Singapore.
Looking Ahead to the Final
Though he may not be at full strength, Wiffen remains focused on defending his title. With a place in the final secured, he knows anything can happen once the race begins.
