WHILE Armagh continues to go mad in the wake of Sunday’s All-Ireland triumph, Daniel Wiffen is determined to make it a week to remember for the Orchard county.
The 23-year-old made easy work of Monday’s 800m freestyle heat at La Defense Arena, becoming the fastest qualifier as he sealed his place in Tuesday night’s final.
Elijah Winnington set the early pace in the final heat but Wiffen, a two-time World gold medallist earlier this year, ground the Australian down. In doing so, he recorded his third fastest time ever – 7.41.53 – as Wiffen’s dreams of Olympic glory in Paris remain firmly on course.
Considering the high the county is already on after Kieran McGeeney’s men toppled Galway on Sunday, the Magheralin man is hoping to tap into that mood when the final comes around.
“I mean, Armagh won, my birthday’s on July 14th, Bastille Day, it’s 100 years since Ireland competed in Paris… just everything seems to be aligning, doesn’t it?”
And, despite posting such an impressive time, Wiffen insists there is much more to come when he takes to the water on Tuesday night.
“The time didn’t surprise me at all - I actually thought I’d be a little bit faster.
“I was only 0.4 off an Olympic record and no Irishman or woman has ever done that so that would have been pretty cool to get, but we’ll save that for tomorrow night.
“It’s never comfortable, but it wasn’t at 100 per cent - you didn’t see my legs come in at the end so that’s where it is, but holding a good pace, happy with the morning swim and a fast time as well, I’m pretty happy.
“I’m not going in there with 100 per cent effort trying to make the final… I’m there to get the job done and hopefully finish it in the final. I’ve got a great lane to look around but, I said before, any lane has a chance.
“I’ll be looking at everybody, I’ll be doing my homework tonight, see how everybody swims it, making sure I’ll be one of the best there tomorrow night.”
When he travelled to Tokyo three years ago, Wiffen wasn’t in the frame at the top end of competition; as an experience, it was a world away from where he stands now.
Monday’s heat affirmed his position as the hunted going into the final and, despite having been on this stage before – albeit in entirely different circumstances – there were nerves as he made the walk poolside.
“I was more nervous there than when I won the World Championships.
“That’s just the Olympics. It’s a different kind of level. Yeah, I was nervous but I dealt with it quite well. You’re nervous round the first 100, then you settle in.
“I never really hear the crowd when I’m swimming, that one I could hear, 100 per cent. There was a lot of Irish support, I saw a lot of tricolours in the stands so I’m pretty happy.
“In Tokyo I was just there already qualified, trying to keep progressing. The past three years have been a blast for me, I’ve been dropping 16 seconds every time I swam in the water in the 1500, and I’ve been PBing at every single international.
“I just want to keep that streak up here. I’ve never been in this shape before in my life.”
The question of medals has been ever-present in the weeks and months leading towards Paris. Now, with what he hopes will be a first of these Games just around the corner, what are his expectations?
“Any medal is good.
“It’s my first race here, it’s my first time being in contention for an Olympic medal so I’ll take any medal, whatever colour, and then we’ve got another two races after this and I’m looking forward to the one in the Seine, especially.”
