Mona McSharry: World Championships Qualification | Irish Championships
Daniel wiffen dominates, seizing the 400m freestyle title and achieving World Championships qualification! The Olympic champion’s swift 3:46.87 not only secures a Championship record but fuels his sights on the 1500m freestyle. John Shortt, the emerging talent, then smashes the Irish record in the 200m backstroke, positioning sixth globally and guaranteeing his spot at the World Championships. While Wiffen looks to refine his freestyle technique and Shortt builds momentum, News Directory 3 delivers the latest from the pool. Discover what’s next for these athletes as they push the boundaries of freestyle swimming.
Daniel Wiffen Wins 400m Freestyle Title; john Shortt Breaks Record
Updated june 02,2025
Daniel Wiffen,the Olympic champion,added the 400m freestyle title to his achievements,complementing his earlier victory in the 800m.His time of 3:46.87 not only secured the Championship record but also met the World Championships qualification standard. Wiffen now anticipates competing in the 1500m freestyle on Wednesday, focusing on further improving his freestyle swimming performance.
Despite the win, Wiffen expressed a desire for enhancement in his freestyle swimming.He believes he needs to shave off seven seconds to be truly competitive at the Olympic level in Los Angeles.He acknowledged that more training is needed to reach his peak fitness for the upcoming challenges in freestyle swimming.
John Shortt,an 18-year-old swimmer from Galway,had a remarkable week,highlighted by his performance in the 200m backstroke semi-final. Representing the National Center limerick, Shortt shattered the Irish senior and junior record, along with the Championship record, and surpassed the qualification time for the World Championships. His remarkable time of 1:56.61 places him sixth globally this year.
“It was tough… I’m disappointed,to be honest… I’m just going to get back training, I think that’s what it’s showing me, in this racing I’m not as fit as I thought,” said Wiffen.
What’s next
Wiffen will focus on training to improve his fitness and aims to achieve a faster time in the 1500m freestyle. Shortt will prepare for the World Championships, building on his record-breaking performance.