Olympic gold medallist Daniel Wiffen is experiencing difficulties with his performances at the ongoing World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Despite being the defending champion in the 800m freestyle, Wiffen barely qualified for the final, finishing fifth in his heat with a time of seven minutes, 46.36 seconds.

Wiffen, who hails from Magheralin in Northern Ireland, has been dealing with health issues, including a recent bout of appendicitis, which has impacted his preparation for the event. He will be competing from an outside lane in the final, a position that adds to the challenge of retaining his title.

Reflecting on his performance, Wiffen expressed his disappointment but remained determined. "Obviously pretty disappointed with the overall swim of the 800, but we've got a lane so we've got a chance to defend my title and I'm going in with that mindset that I can win this still, even though I'm eighth in," he said.

Wiffen also shared his concerns about his current physical state, "I just feel really weak at the moment. I felt it in the 400 and then I felt it in the 800 free, so something's going wrong. I just need to figure out what it is and then change it for [Wednesday] night's final."

Despite these setbacks, Wiffen's resilience and competitive spirit remain undeterred as he prepares to face the world's best swimmers in the 800m freestyle final. His journey serves as a testament to the challenges athletes face in maintaining peak performance under adverse conditions.