Irish swimming is not often associated with the Olympics but distance swimmer Daniel Wiffen can genuinely dream of seeing his nation’s tri-colour flag raised above the Paris pool after his races.
The 22-year-old became Ireland’s first ever World Championships medallist in the pool as he triumphed over 800 metres freestyle gold while also taking top honours on over twice that distance at the same meet, this time winning for a world beat record.
Now, he will try to become only the second Irish swimmer ever to secure an Olympic gold in nearly 30 years after Michelle Smith won three individual titles at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
A big round-framed glasses wearer on dry land and a goofy victory celebration expert (he certainly knows his way to the camera after winning) in the pool, Wiffen thrives at events where they need lung buster exploitation over distance but with immense discomfort too.
Wiffen put his hand up to mimic a phone call on the home stretch of Doha, then hammered it into the water after winning 800m gold.
He trains with his elite swimmer twin brother Nathan and the pair once appeared as child extras in an episode of “Game Of Thrones.
The pair regularly track their training and races on YouTube, using pop hits with the swagger of a curated playlist and uploading soul-baring recounts spinning humour around dips in swims that do not go right.
Daniel and Nathan are likely to give it full gas on the streets of Paris when they explore, but only Daniel will be doing a lot more swimming with Team Ireland.
