Daniel Whiffen’s Swimming Ireland Olympics: Daniel Whiffen’s influence on the next generation of swimming is already visible

The 22-year-old from Maharalin completed an incredible double in Doha, winning gold in both the 800m and 1,500m freestyle at the World Championships. Wiffen hopes to add an Olympic gold medal to her medal tally at this year’s Paris Summer Games.

Sloane, a former Commonwealth Games swimmer who retired from competition last year, has seen first-hand the impact Wiffen’s success has had on young swimmers.

The Swimming Ireland coach said:

“Last week, the kids I coach asked me questions about Dan. Did I know about him? And what’s he like?

“He is already an icon for young swimmers here in Northern Ireland and has the ability to attract more children to our sport.

“Ireland has produced some top class swimmers in the past and he has the ability to take that to a new level. We certainly have players on the men’s side who can break world records and win world titles. There was no one there.

“He has the ability to be a leading figure in swimming for many years to come.

“Daniel is incredibly down-to-earth, yet incredibly ambitious, which is difficult to balance.

“He’s a lovable character and has a good attitude about himself. He’s always been a good person to train with. Everyone in Irish swimming is very pleased to see him in action. I think that’s good for swimming, but he deserves it too.”

Sloan, 30, has no doubt that his former teammate is just getting started. He believes Co Armagh, who is vying to become the first Irish Olympic pool gold medalist, will be even better in Paris in August than he was in Doha.

“Daniel has a chance to do something special in Paris,” Sloan said.

“I haven’t talked to him directly about it, but from my own experience I’m sure his year is built around Paris. The World Championships are like a prelude to the Olympics.

“His goal will be the top in Paris, which is scary considering how fast he was in Doha.

“Three years ago at the Tokyo Games, I had good results in the 800 meters and 1,500 meters (14th and 20th), but I’ve grown a lot since then.”

Sloan, from Bangorman, also qualified for Tokyo as part of Ireland’s 4x100m relay team.

But he suffered heartbreak at the Olympics after FINA’s controversial governing body revoked the invitation to represent Ireland. Disillusioned, Sloan decided to retire.

This year the Irish medley relay men’s and women’s teams have qualified for Paris. But things are rarely that easy in the world of swimming. The men’s quartet will only be able to compete in Paris if two members of the relay team must reach the individual qualifying time.

The women’s team has already secured a spot in Paris after Ards star Victoria Catterson and Larne’s Daniel Hill achieved individual qualifying times.

“I’m pleased that both the men’s and women’s relay teams reached their qualifying times,” Sloan said.

“The women are definitely getting there already and I’m sure the men will cross the line. Irish swimming is in a great place at the moment.”

Wiffen, a former teammate of Sloan, reflected on his impressive performance in Doha and said: “I’m very happy to have won a personal best and two world titles.”

“I’m really happy because after I set my personal best in Stockholm in April, some people might have thought it was a fluke.

“I was talking to my coach Andy (Manley) about it earlier and we had a little bet on whether I was going to go to PB or not. Instead of concentrating on what I was doing, I decided to leave a little early.

“I’m only 22 years old, but in the next eight years I’ll be able to participate in at least two or three more Olympics. I want to be able to break world records.”