2023 EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- December 5-10, 2023
- Otopeni Olympic Swimming Complex, Bucharest, Romania
- Short Course Meters (25 meters)
- Prelims 2:30am (ET), Finals 11am (ET)
- Entries Book
- Live Results (Omega)
- Live Results (Microplus Timing)
- Eurovision Sport Livestream
Daniel Wiffen saved his best for last at the 2023 European Short Course Championships on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Irish distance specialist fired off a personal-best 7:20.46 in the SCM 800 freestyle, dropping more than five seconds and demolishing the legendary world record of 7:23.42 set by Australia’s Grant Hackett back on July 20, 2008, which made it the oldest world record still on the books. That standard stood untouched for 15 years before the arrival of Wiffen, who is believed to be the first Irish swimmer ever to own a world record.
Hackett had held that 800 free world record since August 3, 2001, less than a month after Wiffen was born.
Wiffen’s previous-best time was also the old European record, a 7:25.96 from the 2022 Irish Winter Championships last December. That ranked him as the 4th-fastest performer in history at the time, but now he’s on top of the list thanks to a different race strategy. Wiffen negative split tonight’s race (3:40.91/3:39.55), taking a different approach compared to when he set the Irish national record in the 400 free at the midway point of his previous-best 7:25.96 last December (3:38.40/3:47.56).
All-Time Men’s SCM 800 Free Performers
- Daniel Wiffen (IRL) – 7:20.46, 2023
- Grant Hackett (AUS) – 7:23.42, 2008
- Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR) – 7:25.73, 2020
- Henrik Christiansen (NOR) – 7:25.78, 2020
- Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) – 7:27.94 2021
Daniel Wiffen smashing the great Grant Hackett's world record by 3 seconds. #LENOtopeni2023 @swimnerd @pullbuoy @kylesockwell @swimireland @StateOfSwimming pic.twitter.com/0udeKCGowX
— Paul Griffin (@PGriffinFC) December 10, 2023
On Thursday, Wiffen claimed the 1500 free title in 14:09.11, knocking more than five seconds off his lifetime best to become the No. 4 all-time performer in the event. He was just a couple seconds away from Florian Wellbrock‘s world record of 14:06.88 from the 2021 Short Course World Championships. Wiffen also won the 400 free (3:35.47) on Tuesday, marking a complete sweep of the distance free events.
At the 2023 World Championships, a meet held in long-course meters, Wiffen placed 4th in the 800 free with a European record of 7:39.19, missing the podium less than a second behind Bobby Finke (7:38.67).
MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – FINALS
World Record: Grant Hackett (AUS) – 7:23.42 (2008)European Record: Daniel Wiffen (IRL) – 7:25.96 (2022)SC Euros Record: Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) – 7:27.94 (2021)
Top 8:
- Daniel Wiffen (IRL) – 7:20.46 *WORLD RECORD*
- David Aubry (FRA) – 7:30.32
- Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR) – 7:31.20
- Victor Johansson (SWE) – 7:33.11
- Lucca De Tullio (ITA) – 7:34.08
- Dimitrios Markos (GRE) – 7:36.46
- Felix Auboeck (AUT) – 7:38.26
- Nathan Wiffen (IRL) – 7:39.99
Wiffen trains at Loughborough University in England. His only major international medal before sweeping three golds this week was a silver in the LCM men’s 1500 freestyle last summer at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
wow congrats daniel!!!
Incredible effort by Wiffen! Men’s distance looking ridiculously strong at the moment, so many potential winners for Paris.
Men’s distance events were the most exciting events in Fukuoka
Can’t wait for Paris!
Men’s distance at the moment is packed full of outstanding talent
By far the biggest swim of these championships, why is this not getting as much hype as the NAG records?
I thought exactly the same!
The majority of commenters are from the US? And don’t have as much interest/understanding of SCM?
But absolutely, hype it up!
That’s how Americans are. SCY is their thing, and these kids are the (very promising) future of US swimming; non US swimfans have to watch/follow various international competitions mid-season,, so we are used to being excited for the great swimmers of other nations, but the Americans have their yards swimming during this time, and why shouldn’t they be excited about their own stuff?
I mostly agree btw, but there is really no use asking this question.
I’m not saying this in an attempt to diminish the crazy times in SCY, but more of asking the question “Why are we not more excited about the oldest WR being broken, and if us swim fans are not even excited about this, how can we appeal to non-swimmers who don’t even know the significance of such a record?”
I thought about it for a bit, I guess it’s because this WR kinda came out of nowhere, there was no build up towards it and there wasn’t a storyline to follow. On the other hand we were already keeping a close eye on the US juniors, and there was the Williamson vs Heilman and Shackell vs Crush (in the relay… Read more »
I wouldn’t say it came out of nowhere. Fans have been discussing the possibility of this WR going down since before the meet started.
Tbh, I personally didn’t really care about Winter Juniors (respectfully), but I understand why most Americans care more about it than about Wiffen breaking a WR. They are – as a rule – only interested in a random WR being broken if it was previously held by an American. They don’t really comment for example under Australian trials posts (except the trolls), or Euro Champs etc., whereas us “internationals” (or non-USians xd) are active mostly anywhere. There are obviously exceptions, but I digress. My point being: Americans are interested in the American stuff.
It didnt come out of nowhere. It was talked a lot during this week. It was talked a lot during the year after Phelps’ 400IM record was broken. People were talking about how this was the last chance of the year to break a SCM world record. The record was also demolised, not just broken.
It is just that many US Swimming fans just dont care about swimming outside the USA, simple as that.
Because the WR was held by Hackett and not by a USA swimmer
Swimswam time converter converts this to an 8:22 scy 1000
If he comes over for the U.S. open in 2024 👀
Why does this only have 10 comments? This is historic. Longest standing record broken. 3’39 backhalf. Insane
I had thought his stroke, turns, and style were better suited for LCM. And maybe I’m still right! Excited to see what he does in Paris. This new golden age of men’s distance swimming is so dang exciting!!
Last individual WR left from 2008. Only men’s 4×100 long course and men’s 4×50 short course remain. I thought the 4×100 was ripe for breaking but the splits average out to 47.06…so nevermind! Does anyone even have two sub-47 swimmers right now? Maybe GB?
an in-form GB team has a chance but it would take 4 perfect legs and Burras is always inconsistent
MattyRich and Scott can definitely be sub 47 off relay starts
2/3 of Deano/Whittle/Burras would have to show up. Can throw in old Mr. Reliable Jimmy Guy in for prelims too to save MattyRich or Duncs
Dean has dropped a couple 46 splits, definitely the country with the guns to do it.
Dean and Mat Richards are capable in..Duncan is now in 47s low range..
In the last 15 years..after that massive gold n silver at 2008…only USA team from tokyo recorded a sub 3.09.00 time for 400 free relay..Dressel, pironi, Baker, Apple..
I think this record will be broken in Patis of LA..most ptobably by USA..
47s low lead off by alexy and very fast matt, jonny, williamson or Guliano will be help for that lowering..
The leadoff would have to be really fast, and the best one for that should be Richards. Whittle is rapidly improving, so if Burras can’t find consistency in the relay, there is a potential substitute. Dean is a reliable 46. splitter, but I am unsure about Scott, and since that 46.06 Lezak split is unlikely to be replicated or neared, everyone apart from the leadoff should be 46., which is similarly unlikely.