Daniel Wiffen missed out on a new world record, but did set a championship record in dominating the 1500m freestyle final at the Irish Open Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre.
The double Olympic medallist won in a time of 14:42.71, more than half a minute ahead of his twin brother Nathan Wiffen (15:15.57) with Limerick's Denis O'Brien in third (15:22.18).
Wiffen publicly stated his aim was to break a world record at this year's Irish Open Championships, and admitted to RTÉ Sport that the 1500m was his best chance of doing so.
The record of 14:30.57 was set by American Bobby Finke in last year's Olympic final, a race where Wiffen took bronze - his second Olympic medal after claiming gold in the 800m freestyle.
Wiffen swam 14:39.63 in La Defense Arena back in August.
Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen may have missed the world record in the final of the men's 1500m at the Irish Open Swimming Championships but he did record the second fastest time in the world this year (14:42.71), finishing over 30 seconds ahead of brother Nathan in second place. pic.twitter.com/d7KCGa4dQo
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 16, 2025
Having already claimed the 400m and 800m titles earlier this week, the Armagh swimmer said he was 'disappointed' with his time in the 800m, which was three seconds outside his European and Olympic record, which he set when winning gold last summer.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after his latest win, Wiffen said: "That was my favourite one so far and I actually felt that time was really good for now.
"I think my 800 should have been way faster, but I'm happy with the 1500.
"I've been pretty tired and yesterday the 400 kind of killed me off. I'm sure you saw me dying at the end of it. But I'm pretty happy with that."
Refusing to cite the lack of a rival to chase or a genuine challenger to achieve a faster time, he added: "I'm used to it now. I think I broke the Irish record for the first time when I was 17, so for five years I've been swimming by myself, so I'm use to it."
Danielle Hill, who had already achieved consideration for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore earlier in the week, set a new championship record in the final of the 50m backstroke.
Hill clocked 22.85 to see off Maria Godden and Jena Macdougald.
The Larne swimmer soon doubled up in the 50m freestyle in 25.44, with Rosalie Phelan and Macdougald her nearest pursuers.
Ellie McCartney, another competitor who secured a consideration time for the Worlds when setting a championship record of 2:24.35 in the semi-final of the 200m breaststroke on Tuesday to rank inside the global top 10 this year, grabbed gold in the event with her second fastest-time ever as she hit the wall in 2:25.01.
The podium places were rounded off by Niamh Connery and Megan Jones.
Evan Bailey added 100m freestyle gold to the 200m freestyle gold he had won earlier in the week in 49.15, with Thomas Leggett and Cormac Rynn best of the rest.
Clare Custer closed out an impressive meet with her third gold medal, adding the 800m freestyle title to the 400m freestyle and 1500m freestyle crowns she won earlier in the week.
Custer clocked 8:56.46 as Lily Doyle and Rebekah Friel bagged silver and bronze.
Fifteen-year-old Julia Dziedzic defied her tender years to see off Georgina Walker and Lucy O'Brien in the final of the 400m individual medley in 5:01.18.
Earlier in the day, and fresh off setting two Irish records in the 200m freestyle on Tuesday, Ellen Walshe clocked a time of 4:41.86 in the heats.
Walshe, who holds the Irish record and championship record in the event in 4:37.18, went well under the 4:43.06 qualifying mark for the Worlds and then withdrew from the final.
The men's event went to Tom Wilkinson in 4:37.41, with Phelim Hanley and Emmet Cousins next home.
Jack Cassin, who won the 100m butterfly title, triumphed in the 200m final of the same stroke in 1:59.18, with the minor podium places filled by Brogan McAviney and Ronan Kilcoyne.
Eoin Corby was another swimmer to double up as he added 200m breaststroke gold to his 100m title in 2:13.07, with Lachey Reed and Liam O’Connor second and third.
Victoria Catterson won the 200m freestyle title for a fourth consecutive year, seeing off Grace Davison and Danielle Farrell in 2:00.99.
In the 50m backstroke final, Charlie Cassidy took gold in 26.40 ahead of David O’Loughlin and Fionn Byrne. Commemorative gold went to Portugal’s Joao Nogueira Costa in 25.31.
Adam Bradley collected the 50m breaststroke gold in 28.55 ahead of Christian O’Brien and Diarmuid Sutton.
The women's final went the way of Ava Jones in 31.78 from Isabel Kidney and Niamh Coyne.
Dylan Registe won the 50m butterfly title in 24.46 from Charlie Eatwell and Eoghan Rynn. Commemorative gold was won by Portugal’s Diogo Ribeiro in a new championship record of 23.09.
The women's title was won by Jena Macdougald in 27.74 from Katie Kelly, with commemorative gold going to England's Jessica Calderbank in 26.99.