While triathlon’s Alex Yee was proudly carrying the flag for Team GB at the Olympic Games closing ceremony in Paris, his Irish counterpart Daniel Wiffen missed out on the chance to do the same.
Like Yee, 23-year-old Wiffen also won a gold (800m freestyle) and bronze (1500m freestyle) at the Games.
And like Yee, he also swam in the River Seine when he moved from the pool to the 10km open water event last Friday.
The water quality in the Seine had meant several swim familiarisation sessions had to be cancelled in both triathlon and open water but all races were able to go ahead, albeit the men’s triathlon was postponed by just over 24 hours.
‘Rushed to hospital’
Writing on X, Wiffen explained why he wasn’t able to take part in the closing ceremony: “Thanks everyone who reached out, I’m incredibly disappointed to miss out on the opportunity to be flag bearer last night.
“Yesterday I rushed to hospital as I was very unwell with a bug that I am being treated for, and am feeling better now.”
Like Team GB it was a hugely successful Games for Team Ireland and Wiffen had said it was a “a great privilege” to be chosen for one of the two flag bearer roles at the finale in Paris.
His place was taken by gold-winning rower Fintan McCarthy who performed the role alongside another swimming medallist Mona McSharry.
‘Really special’
Yee and gold medal-winning gymnast Bryony Page did the honours for Team GB, with Yee saying: “There’s been so many incredible performances over the last two weeks from Team GB, so to be selected as somebody who’s represented Team GB well and made the country proud is really special.”
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