Daniel Wiffen
Swimming
BIOGRAPHY
Daniel Wiffen became the first Irishman ever to win an Olympic swimming medal when he claimed 800m Freestyle gold in a new Olympic record time at the Paris Games.
Days later he added a 1,500m freestyle bronze medal to his tally, as well as becoming the first Irish athlete to contest the open water 10km swim.
Daniel’s first major medal was Commonwealth silver in 1,500m freestyle in 2022. A year later he was fourth in both the 800m and 1,500m at World Championships, with a new European record in the 800m.
In 2023 he won three gold medals at the European Short Course Championships where his 7:20.46 smashed Grant Hackett’s world record from 2008.
In February 2024 he not only became the first Irish swimmer to medal at a World Long Course Championships but became a double world champion in 800m and 1,500m where his 13:34:07 time was the fifth fastest in history.
On his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, Daniel set new Irish records of 7:51.65 and 15:07.69 when placing 14th & 20th respectively.
OTHER SWIMMING ATHLETES
SWIMMING NEWS
Team Ireland Weekend Highlights, April 12–13, 2025
From Augusta to Dublin, Belgium to the Basque Country, Irish athletes produced standout performances across a range of Olympic sports this weekend. Rory McIlroy Completes Career Grand Slam Rory McIlroy delivered a defining moment for Irish sport this weekend, winning the 2025 Masters Tournament and becoming just the sixth golfer in history — and [...]
Top Results from the Weekend
9 March 2025; Sarah Healy of Ireland celebrates winning gold in the women's 3000m final on day four of the European Athletics Indoor Championships 2025 at the Omnisport Apeldoorn in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile A Golden Weekend for Team Ireland! A massive congratulations to our athletes on their incredible performances over the weekend! [...]
Nominations For RTE Sportsperson of the Year
Next Sunday evening, December 15th at 9:30 pm, the RTÉ Sport Awards 2024 will air live on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player. Hosted by Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney, and Jacqui Hurley from Studio 4 in RTÉ, the event will celebrate Irish sporting excellence in front of an audience filled with the nation’s top athletes. [...]
SWIMMERS DANIEL WIFFEN AND MONA MCSHARRY ANNOUNCED AS CLOSING CEREMONY FLAGBEARERS
Double Olympic medallist Daniel Wiffen, and Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry have been announced as the Team Ireland Flagbearers for the Closing Ceremony of Paris 2024 tomorrow night (Sunday). Olympic gold and bronze medallist Wiffen, and Olympic bronze medallist McSharry both reacted with immense pride on discovering they had been selected to carry the Irish [...]
DAY 13 MORNING REPORT FROM TEAM IRELAND
Team Ireland’s women’s 4x400m relay team have made yet more history at these Paris Olympic Games by becoming the first women’s relay team ever to make an Olympic final, qualifying with a third place finish in their heat. Hurdler Sarah Lavin and 800m athlete Mark English both ran really well placing sixth in their respective semi-finals but missed out on the [...]
DIFFICULT DAY AT LE GOLF NATIONAL FOR MAGUIRE AND MEADOW
Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow were back in action at Le Golf National in round two of the women’s singles today. Meadow carded a round of 74; four better than yesterday, but Maguire will be frustrated after signing for a round of 79 today. GOLF It was another unforgiving day for Stephanie Meadow and Leona [...]