Daniel Wiffen Makes Bold Move Back to Dublin for Olympic Training Success
Olympic gold medallist Daniel Wiffen has announced his decision to move his training base from University of California, Berkeley to Dublin, viewing it as a permanent transition. The 24-year-old swimmer originally relocated to the USA last year, following five years at Loughborough University, where his twin brother Nathan also trained. Leading up to the Irish Open earlier this month, Wiffen had hinted at the possibility of relocating to Dublin if his performances in Bangor did not meet expectations. Despite winning three gold medals in the 800m freestyle, 400m, and 1500m events, he described his experience in the 800m as "pretty awful," prompting his decision to switch. Wiffen stated, "I'm looking at it as a permanent move. I thought California was a permanent move, but that didn't work out. This is the plan to stay here until the LA Olympics in 2028." He emphasized the advantages of training in Dublin, noting a specialized environment and support from his former coach Andi Manley. Reflecting on his time in California, he expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of guidance and training structure, saying, "In California, it felt like you kind of didn't know what you were doing." As he prepares for a busy summer with the Commonwealth Games and European Championships, Wiffen aims to leverage this new training environment to achieve record-breaking performances. He acknowledged the need for adjustments based on his upcoming benchmark meets, stating, "I have eyes on the world record in the summer, but if not I need to readjust some things."
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-29