Daniel Wiffen

Daniel Wiffen (born 14 July 2001) is a swimmer from Northern Ireland who competes at Olympic Games, World and European championships level for Ireland and at the Commonwealth Games for Northern Ireland. He won the 800 and 1500 metres freestyle at the 2024 world championships, the first time a male Irish swimmer had become world champion. Wiffen holds the 800 metres freestyle short-course world record with a time of 7:20.46.

Background
Wiffen was born in England and moved to Magheralin, County Down, at the age of two. Possessing both Irish and British nationality, he represents Ireland at Olympic, World and European level, and Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games. He became the 2023 European short-course (25-metre pool) champion over 400, 800 and 1500 metres freestyle, the first Irish swimmer to win European short-course gold. In the 2022 Commonwealth Games he won the silver medal for Northern Ireland in the 1500 metres freestyle.

He competed in the men's 800 metres freestyle and 1500 metres freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics. In December 2022 Wiffen broke the European record for the 800 metres freestyle short course, becoming the first Irishman to hold a European record in swimming. At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships he broke the European record for the 800 metres long course as well.

He also won the inaugural 2023 European under-23 championship over 1500 metres freestyle.

Paris 2024
Wiffen Qualified in the 1500m, 800m & 400m events for Paris but will not compete in the 400m and will instead swim in the 10km Open water swim becoming Irelands first Olympian in Open Water Swimming swimming in the River Seine

Personal Life
Daniel's brother Nathan is also a swimmer who finished 4th in the 1500m at the 2024 European Championships

Daniel and his brother have a Youtube Channel @Wiffen Twins With 3.49k Subscribers https://www.youtube.com/@WiffenTwins/videos

Wiffen attends Loughborough University