WIFF OF SUCCESS
On-form Dan can smell fear of his Olympic rivals
IRELAND swimming sensation Daniel Wiffen claims he is ‘scaring’ his medal Olympic rivals.
Wiffen, 22, became the first Irishman to break a world record in the pool when he smashed a 15-year-old best at the European Short Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania last month.
He claimed three golds there – in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle – and aims to make it onto the podium at Paris 2024.
Wiffen’s progression has stunned observers after his move to Loughborough University four years ago.
He had wanted to go to the United States on a scholarship but his parents didn’t fancy him moving too far and so he followed Nathan, his twin brother, to study in Leicester.
“When I moved to Loughborough I think I started on a 15:39 in my 1500m and just last year I brought it down to a 14:34,” he said. “So that’s over a minute drop there in three years. Then short-course, in 800m, I’ve dropped over 45 seconds. I’d say my rate of improvement is pretty scary for my opposition.
“They’re probably looking at me thinking, ‘This guy drops time every time he swims’ which I find is quite an advantage because maybe it makes this fear factor of, ‘What’s he going to do next?’.
“It’s pretty cool. There are still people who I need to beat around the world, that’s just the next box to tick, to race world champs and try to beat them.
“I am pretty confident. I’ve got quite a bit of experience now, I think that’s what was lacking before.”
Wiffen admits smashing Grant Hackett’s record was not exactly part of the plan.
“It may sound a bit weird but I actually didn’t rest to break the world record,” he explained. “I just turned up at the meet and swam fast. It’s exciting to feel that way because I know I didn’t put the full preparation in and I ended up smashing a world record that’s never been touched in 10 years.”
Wiffen is part of a 12-strong team that will compete in next month’s World Aquatics Championships.
Last year, the Down athlete finished in fourth place in the final of the 800m and 1500m at the finals.
“That changed something in me. It really made me more determined this season than before that I need to keep to myself, keep my head down and really go for it,” he said.
Yet Swim Ireland’s national performance coach John Rudd does partly attribute Wiffen’s massive improvements down to a rare self-confidence.
“It would be a cocktail of different qualities within Daniel,” said Rudd. “First of all, physiologically, he’s exceptional and able to maintain a high pace over a long distance that very few athletes can achieve.
“Outside of that, he has exceptional self-belief and confidence, one of the highest levels of self-confidence that I’ve ever seen.
“It doesn’t cross over into arrogance or conceit, it’s just self-belief and applies that on a day-to-day basis.”