'One of the worst things I've ever done' - Wiffen retires from open water swimming after Seine race

Olympian Daniel Wiffen has announced his retirement from open water swimming after a 10km race in the Seine which he called "probably one of the worst things" he's ever done. 

The Armagh man (23) - who has won gold and bronze medals for Ireland in the men's 800m freestyle and 1500m freestyle races - placed 18th out of a total of 33 competitors in this morning's (August 9) race. 

Speaking to RTÉ Sport after finishing, he said it was his "last" open water swim. 

He said, "I'm happy I did it, now I can say I can range from 10km. And I actually placed higher than I did in Tokyo in the pool so I'm pretty proud of myself.

"But when you get to half way all I was thinking was 'I'm already an Olympic champion and I'm still in this and I'm coming 18th, oh we'll just finish it now' but I'm never doing it again." 

He continued, "My goal coming into this, I know everyone thought 'whatever' but my goal was to finish, I'm very pleased with  myself and I'm happy I didn't come last. 

"All the coaches were laughing because I was swimming out by myself because I wasn't arsed going behind somebody, all I was thinking was I can't be arsed getting kicked in the face. I got a couple of elbows in the eye and I got punched in the face at one point and I thought this sport isn't for me, I definitely want my own lane next time." 

Asked what he's going to do with his last couple of days in Paris, Wiffen responded, "Party."