Irish swimmer Daniel Wiffen misses Olympics closing ceremony due to hospitalization after Seine swim

Despite bringing home gold and bronze medals for Ireland, Daniel Wiffen’s Olympic Games ended on a low note after the swimmer had to miss the closing ceremonies this weekend. Wiffen contracted a bug in his final days in Paris and was hospitalized, forcing him to miss the opportunity to serve as flag bearer for his team during closing ceremonies.

Wiffen, who won gold in the 800m freestyle and bronze in the 1,500m freestyle, finished his Olympics program with the open-water 10km marathon swim in the Seine. The event, which took place on Aug. 9, saw the Irishman come in 18th. Swimming in the River Seine has been banned in the past due to E.coli contamination, however, Paris implemented a cleanup project in 2015 to make it passable for the Summer Games.

“It was probably one of the worst things I’ve ever done,” Wiffen told RTE afterward, vowing “never to it again.” “I’m retiring from open water,” he added.

Wiffen leaves Paris with two medals for Ireland

Despite his illness, Wiffen was happy with how his Olympics concluded. His gold and bronze medals were the first Olympic medals for the 23-year-old swimmer.

“Thanks everyone who reached out, I’m incredibly disappointed to miss out on the opportunity to be flag bearer last night,” Wiffen wrote Sunday on X.

“Yesterday I rushed to hospital as I was very unwell with a bug that I am being treated for, and am feeling better now. I hope everyone enjoys the evening and I hope to be well enough to seeing everyone when we get home.”

“They say every child has a dream, to pursue the dream is in every child hand’s to make it a reality. I had the dream of becoming an Olympic Champion,” he wrote. “I put the work in everyday and I’m so happy to say that I have accomplished my childhood dream.

“Now Paris 2024 is over and I head back to Ireland I can finally reflect and thank everyone for the support across the past weeks and I’m happy to say I’m bringing a Gold and Bronze home.”

Seine River water quality under scrutiny

The quality of the water in the Seine has been an ongoing topic of controversy this month in Paris. The German Olympic committee said this week in a statement that three athletes became ill after competing in the open water races.

“Two female German open water swimmers were treated as outpatients (Friday) for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. They have been feeling much better since this morning,” the statement read. “Another swimmer with similar symptoms is currently being treated by the German team doctors.”