Mark Cullen sat down with Olympic gold medalist Daniel Wiffen to discuss his record-breaking achievements, the honour of receiving the UCD James Joyce Award, and his journey in elite swimming. Wiffen shares insights into his training, inspirations, and how he stays grounded amid success.
After a successful summer in the pool in Paris, Olympic gold medalist Daniel Wiffen was honoured with the prestigious UCD James Joyce. This award is given to individuals who achieve excellence across various fields, from academics to sports and has been awarded to many significant figures in the past. Given the award’s prestige, Daniel’s reaction was one of deep appreciation. Speaking to the College Tribune, he said, “Obviously, I had heard of it before, being very much in Irish culture, it was amazing they had awarded it to me. I have seen all the previous participants who have won the award, and it is amazing to be part of that. It was a great night. I had such a good time, and the people hosting it were amazing”.
Daniel has had several role models throughout his journey, particularly in swimming, who inspired him to continue working hard. “Grant Hackett and Mack Horton; Horton was my first role model as he was the Olympic Champion in 2016. He was always someone I would look up to. I met him and raced him at the Commonwealth Games. I won the heat, but he did beat me in the final. He got the bronze medal, and I got 4th place.”
Competing against someone you admire can be both a mental and physical challenge. Daniel eventually broke Grant Hackett’s 2008 world record in the 800m freestyle, a significant milestone in his career.
When I asked Daniel about his diet and how he sustains his energy levels, he gave an expected answer, similar to stories about other elite athletes like Michael Phelps. Daniel explained, “There’s nothing too unique or niche about my diet. It’s mostly about making sure I get enough food to fuel my high-intensity training, which often amounts to around 7,000 calories a day.”
When I asked about his reaction to becoming a world record holder—an achievement often the pinnacle of a swimmer’s career—he said, “(I’m) astonished. It’s different from winning Olympic medals because you have to convince yourself you can do it before you even try. With a world record, there’s no one else to judge it against, so you really have to know your body and trust that you’re going fast enough. When I touched the wall and looked up, that was one of the happiest moments of my life.”
Daniel also boasts his own YouTube channel, which he runs alongside his twin brother Nathan, aptly titled The Wiffen Twins. When asked about this endeavour, he shared, “I really love it. I use it as a tool to show others what it’s like to be a performance athlete. I show them what they need to work toward, and they can see the training and how I do it and then watch as I achieve my goals. I also enjoy looking back at my own journey.” Daniel is using his platform to inspire others and provide insights into what it takes to reach the highest level of performance.
Although Daniel was born in Leeds and grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland where Gaelic football dominated, he shared that swimming wasn’t the typical path for local kids. “There was no swimming community in my village. Nathan and I were the only ones.” Nathan is also a talented swimmer and a key part of their shared YouTube channel. This highlights that success is possible even without readily available opportunities and with enough determination.
Given Daniel’s remarkable career, I wanted to hear any final advice he would give to aspiring athletes on the verge of pushing boundaries. His response emphasised the importance of staying grounded, even after success: “Keep being yourself and never change. I was told this by my training partner Felix when I was younger—‘You want to be the nicest Olympic Champion.’ Never let your results change who you are, and always keep working hard. I never stop working. I always try to improve each year.”
As sports science advances, recovery has become crucial to an athlete’s performance. Daniel shared some of his methods for tracking his body’s response to training and ensuring effective recovery. “I use a heart rate monitor when I train to make sure I’m in the right zones. We also have a camera system for technique, but I don’t use sleep trackers or any other gadgets. I just make sure to get nine hours of sleep.”
Despite his high-level performance, Daniel doesn’t obsess over recovery statistics. Instead, he focuses on the basics, which have worked for him, as evidenced by his recent victories.
While we often view Olympians as vastly different from the average person, Daniel revealed that he spends his downtime much like many others. “I go to the cinema or play Call of Duty with my teammates. I love it because it gives me a break from swimming. I went to the Gladiator II premiere recently, and I loved it.”
Even at the highest level of competition, taking time to unwind and mentally recharge is crucial for maintaining long-term success.
Mark Cullen – Contributor
