Olympics 2024: Swimming and Golf Highlights
Swimming and Golf Highlights
SWIMMING: Daniel Wiffen ‘Happy but Disappointed’ After Bronze in 1500m Freestyle
Daniel Wiffen of Ireland delivered a stirring performance in the men’s 1500m freestyle final but had to settle for bronze after a thrilling race at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre.
The Armagh native, who had already secured gold in the 800m freestyle earlier in the Games, was the hot favorite to claim another top spot. However, American swimmer Bobby Finke stole the spotlight with a record-breaking swim, finishing first in an impressive 14:30.67. Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri followed with a time of 14:34.55, while Wiffen took third with a time of 14:39.63.
Despite his podium finish, Wiffen expressed mixed emotions after the race. “To be honest, it’s quite emotional. I don’t know what to say because… I just feel in my head, a gold and a bronze, I can’t be more happy,” Wiffen said to RTE.
The 23-year-old admitted that after his gold medal win in the 800m, his expectations were high. “When you hit gold the first time you race, you kind of don’t want any less than that,” he reflected. Yet, Wiffen remains proud of his achievements, noting, “We’ve never had a medal before in this competition in the Olympics for men, so to come away with two, I’m very happy.”
Acknowledging Finke’s extraordinary performance, Wiffen said, “I did try to dig deep and push it, but I just didn’t have enough today.” With the bronze medal secured, Wiffen looks ahead to the 10km event later in the Games, expressing excitement for the challenge. “Tonight I’m going to celebrate. I’m ready to kind of put the pool behind me now until next season.”
GOLF: Rory McIlroy Disappointed After Narrowly Missing Out on Olympic Glory
Rory McIlroy’s quest for Olympic gold fell short as he finished tied for fifth place at Le Golf National, despite a final round 65 that showcased his trademark skill.
McIlroy, who has struggled with a series of near-misses in recent years, found himself in contention after a scintillating run of five consecutive birdies. However, a costly double bogey on the 15th hole dashed his hopes of medaling. “It’s all well and good saying I’m close and close and close,” McIlroy lamented after the round. “Once I actually step through the threshold and turn these near misses and close calls into wins, that’s what I need to do.”
The final round saw world number one Scottie Scheffler of the USA secure gold with a remarkable 62, finishing with a 19-under par total. Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood claimed silver, and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama took bronze.
McIlroy’s chances were severely impacted when he found water with a wedge shot on the 15th, missing his target by a few crucial yards. “The two boys in front of me, Nicolai Hojgaard and Hideki Matsuyama, got their balls up in the air a little bit more and the wind carried it. I hit the shot I wanted to hit but didn’t get the ball in the air enough,” McIlroy explained.
Reflecting on the tournament, McIlroy praised the atmosphere and competition. “It was an amazing experience. Probably one of the best individual competitions I’ve been a part of,” he said. “It’s incredible how much energy and passion was here. This has the potential to be right up there with the Ryder Cup.”
As he looks to the future, McIlroy remains determined to convert his near-misses into victories. “I want to shed the nearly man tag and turn these close calls into wins,” he said, as he prepares for the next challenge ahead.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Olympics continue to bring thrilling performances and unforgettable moments.
