Daniel Wiffen smashes 800m freestyle world record to win third European Short Course Championships gold

Daniel Wiffen won his third gold of the European Short Course Championships in style, setting a new 800m freestyle short-course world record in the process.

The 22-year-old from Magheralin finished in seven minutes 20.46, beating Grant Hackett's 15-year-old mark by almost three seconds.Hackett had first set the record in August 2001, two weeks after Wiffen was born.

"That world record, I think it's one of the oldest in the books," said Wiffen afterwards. "To beat his record is just amazing. I look up to him every day."

France David Aubry was a distant second in 7:30.32, ahead of Ukraine's Mykhailo Romanchuk in third. Wiffen's twin brother Nathan finished eighth in 7:39.99, his second fastest time to date.

On the final day of action in Romania, Wiffen added the 800m title to the 1500m and 400m freestyle crowns he secured earlier in the week.

'I was trying to keep it under wraps that I was in the shape for it' - A historic evening in the pool as Daniel Wiffen set a new 800m freestyle short-course world record to claim his third gold medal of the week pic.twitter.com/pmVPLJSciW

He added: "I actually felt horrible during the morning so it’s great to swim that fast when I’ve been feeling that way.

"This is the hardest ever period [of racing] as I’ve had ten days of racing. I’ve done four 1500s, three 800s and two 400s in ten days and to finish off with the world record just proves my fitness.

"‘This time last year I broke the European record in the 800m and then in April I went 14:36 and then at the world champs, two fourth places and a European record long course in the 800m freestyle.

"I was kind of disappointed with my fourth places so coming here I was like 'We need to step up, no more fourth places, let’s get in the medals' and