Homeward-bound Daniel Wiffen primed for tilt at world title in Singapore
Daniel Wiffen will plot his path to the Los Angeles Olympics from a home base following his graduation from Loughborough University.
The two-time Paris Games medallist prepared for the 2024 Olympics while based at the renowned English college, but now, having ended his academic assignments, Wiffen is eyeing a move back home this summer.
But first, the Olympic champion is fully focused on the upcoming 2025 World Aquatics Championships, which are taking place in Singapore from 11 July to 3 August.
And the Magheralin man will be looking to repeat the feat of the last edition of the world championships, where he secured double gold in his main events of the 800m and 1500m freestyle.
"Training is going great," said Wiffen, speaking to RTE Sport. "We've been doing some crazy sets, which I've been really fast, so I'm really looking forward to the world championships.
"I want to win gold, which is an easy one to say because I have already won the world championships twice, so for me that's what it is going to be, re-win the medals I've already won, it's that simple."
The 23-year-old said that outside the pool, he has been immersed in the business of sports analytics, with the help of sponsors Deloitte, aiming for ways to go faster and become more efficient in racing scenarios.
And he believes that he is identifying factors, which will help him to bring additional strengths to his swimming as he progresses towards the LA Games in three years' time.
"I'm looking at what I did wrong in Paris, not obviously winning the gold medal, but there are actually quite a lot of areas where I can improve, so that's what I am looking at," said Wiffen.
"I'm looking at the analytics side of it. Maybe if I did that turn faster, or maybe if I didn't breathe at that point or reduce my breathing time, something like that, it's all looking at those little details and if I can refine them, that's how I keep progressing every year.
"I wasn't perfect at all, far from it, and that's what makes it exciting for me going towards LA, because if I can win gold in a race when I was 80% there, when I have 20% left in the tank where I can actually improve from."
Wiffen won the gold medal in the 800m freestyle in Paris and followed it up with a bronze in the 1500m, and admitted that he struggled with the aftermath of such a high.
However, it did not take too long to rediscover his competitive streak, thanks to his lifelong sibling rivalry with twin brother Nathan.
"Motivation was maybe a bit low after Paris, because obviously you have come off this giant high and then I went on holiday for so long.
"But when I went back training, Nathan had been back a month and he was beating me in training, so as soon as I started losing, honestly I'm the worst loser, I hate it.
"So I switched back on and started winning again, and that's me. I just have that personality and that rivalry I have with my brother makes me want to go faster again."
And it all sets things up perfectly for a run at making it back-to-back successes at the upcoming Worlds as Wiffen goes after that top spot on the podium, despite coming into the championships without the favourite tag.
"I was number one in the world for a while, but we've had some pretty fast Germans who had some quick times, so I'm just looking forward to racing them," said Wiffen.
"I think I'm sitting second and third in the world at the moment so I just want to progress one or two spots.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge and it's kind of nice not going in as favourite for the season because I like looking for a better story for when I win."
And while Wiffen is fully expecting to come home with some medals from Singapore, he is also challenging himself to bring home a personal accolade from the championships, at least, in the form of a PB, and perhaps something even more prestigious.
"I'm definitely going for it (the world record)," he said.
"I feel you can't not go to a race being only a second off the world record and not be going for it, so that's my goal.
"I've PB'd at every major international competition that I've done, so I aim to PB one more time before I break that world record. Time will tell."
In absentia for the official university graduation next month, the college will accommodate an early exchange of formalities and obligatory photo opportunities before heading off to Singapore, as Wiffen signs off from what has been a perfect partnership with the highly regarded sporting institution.
And once the Worlds are completed, Wiffen will pack up his belongings in England, complete with his ever-growing medal collection, and head home to start plotting that path to the America Games in 2028, while looking forward to an off-season traipsing the great golfing links of Ireland to help recharge for next season.
"I'm moving back to Ireland," confirmed Wiffen. "My rent is up in August and I'll be moving back.
"I haven't actually appointed my coach yet, I'm still deciding, so I'm looking forward to that, and more than likely it will be based in Dublin," he addd, confirming that Andi Manley is no longer his coach.
"So Dublin based, but a lot of prolonged training periods in different countries with different people. Obviously, we don't have the training partners in Ireland I want to train with, so I'll have to take camps away in America or Italy, but based in Ireland.
"And I'll be taking my off-season in Ireland, going around the country golfing. Last year it was surfing, this year it's golf."
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