“Words Cant Explain”: Daniel Wiffen Opens Up Moments After Threatening World Record at the Doha World Championships

The 17-day-long Doha World Championships has concluded with a terrific thud. We have the Olympic top favorites already. Having said so, how thrilling the July event will be is beyond human comprehension. Speaking of the stellar performances we beheld in the past few days, one athlete’s historical feat stands out in particular. Not unfamiliar to any, the Northern Irish swimmer Daniel Wiffen’s back-to-back gold podiums in 800m and 1500m have garnered love and titles alike. Not only that, he inscribed his name in Irish history as the first homeboy to earn a World Champion title. But let’s hear from the titlist himself, who’s a margin away from Sun Yang’s best time.

Daniel Wiffen is at a loss for words

World Aquatics’ Instagram page set the stage to accolade the history makers of the World Aquatics Championships 2024. The last day of the event was the perfect icing on the cake, with phenoms like Wiffern, Issac Cooper, and Sarah Sjostrom unfurling their victory flags. But to the 22-year-old, some factors contributed to his unprecedented win. In a post-race interview, he said, “The crowd was really good tonight and it cheered on me on”. Further said, “Words can’t explain how happy I am”. 

I mean, we can’t blame him for that, can we! Taking a peek at his last races, and how he successfully made up for his Fukuoka losses, we’re singing praises. Hailing from Magheralin, the 22-year-old Daniel Wiffen had a stellar 2022, when he broke the European 800m freestyle short course record as the first Irish swimmer. Shortly after, he broke the 800m long course at the 2023 World Championships. But can he make extraordinary waves in the Olympics as well?

Wiffen’s humility came to the fore

In a conversation with Olympics.com, he said, “I’m loving it. Breaking that world record a couple months ago. But I’m just trying to do my job.” If this he considers as a basic job responsibility, bless the athletes who haven’t yet seen him in full form. If he goes on to claim both the 800m and 1500m titles in the Olympics, too, he would be the first Irish man in history to have achieved a quadruple.

READ MORE: Who Is Daniel Wiffen? Irish Swimming Champion Who Broke 15-Year Old World Record in 800M Freestyle

He not only outclassed his fellow swimmers in the pool but also earned the ‘best swimmer of the meet’ title. “I’m more looking forward to my twin brother (Nathan Wiffen); I want him to go to the Olympics,” said the loving big brother. Nathan Wiffen, also a top-class swimmer competing in the 800m, might lock horns with his twin brother at the Olympics!

Watch this story: Revealed: Here’s How Swimming Queen Katie Ledecky Swims So Fast Without Getting Tired