PERHAPS THE DAY that’s in it has to be taken into account, it being April 1, but Daniel Wiffen insists he will ditch his new life in California and return to Dublin to continue his LA 2028 preparations if he doesn’t meet expectations at next week’s Irish Open in Bangor.
Speaking on a Zoom call this afternoon, the reigning 800m freestyle Olympic champion did not appear to be pulling anyone’s leg.
Having left Loughborough University for California in September – following in the footsteps of his twin Nathan, who is on a university scholarship there – he may yet change course again.
“One of the main reasons I left Loughborough was because I wasn’t convinced that I could stay there and still go fast,” Wiffen explained.
“So when I went to California it was kind of an eye-opening experience. Everything was brand new, everything was kind of working.
“We’ve been there a bit of time now, so it’s good to see if it actually does work. That’s why I’m judging it at the trials because I’m going to be very honest with everybody on the call – if I don’t swim fast next week, I’m not staying in California.”
Wiffen has always been good at mic drops. This is another one.
In the run-up to last year’s Irish Open, he declared that his motivation was to break a world record during his home championships. It didn’t happen, but having bounced back from appendicitis to win a gold and two bronze medals at the European Aquatics Championships (short course), he is now targeting personal bests across four events: 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m.
“Well, obviously, I’m expecting to be at my best, so I don’t have to make any decision,” Wiffen smiled.
“I have to be sub-14:40 (for 1500m), around sub-7:42 (for 800m), around 3:44 in the 400m. That’s where I want to be. I’ve done six months of training in California. If I’m around those times – under or close to my PB – then that’s great. That obviously means the training’s working.
“If it doesn’t work, then I obviously have to decide what I’m going to do after.”
Wiffen is not entirely sure how things will go next week. The training he is doing with Nathan and a highly motivated group at the University of California is more intense than he is used to, but they clock up fewer metres overall each week.
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It is something he has had to adjust to over time. On the plus side, he feels he can hold his race pace more effectively.
Then there is the Californian lifestyle. It is enjoyable, he admits, but there are distractions that were not present in Loughborough.
Bangor, he says, will be the litmus test.
“If something doesn’t work, I’m not going to stick at it,” he said. “I know I’m going to be fast, but who knows how fast.
“I’m thinking of probably coming back to Dublin if it doesn’t go well. But we have to see. If I swim lights out in Bangor, then my decision is kind of made.
“Loughborough is all about grind, very similar weather to Ireland. I love swimming in the rain because when the weather is dull, you just want to get in the pool.
“The motivation can be harder in California at times. There, it comes from being in a very fast training group where everybody is pushing each other, whereas in Loughborough I feel like it was more self-motivation.
“I was getting in there because I wanted to win and achieve things, whereas now the group is pushing me to swim fast – which I like – but I think I want a bit of that self-motivation back.
“So we’ll have to see how next week goes, but I’ll happily answer your questions after I swim.”
The ultimate goal remains the same. Wiffen says he thinks about winning three gold medals in Los Angeles every day.
“Every single time I get into the water,” he stressed. “I remind myself every time I get in. I picture the people I’ll be racing, even though I don’t know who they’re going to be, because every year somebody new comes through.
“It was like me before Paris, or in 2023 when I was the one coming up. There’s always somebody younger emerging. You’ve got to figure them out – but I’ll have them figured out by the time it matters.
“I’m ready to race. That’s just me. I’d say I’ve actually become, over the years, quite adaptable.”
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'If I don’t swim fast next week, I’m not staying in California' - Wiffen's LA Olympics plan
PERHAPS THE DAY that’s in it has to be taken into account, it being April 1, but Daniel Wiffen insists he will ditch his new life in California and return to Dublin to continue his LA 2028 preparations if he doesn’t meet expectations at next week’s Irish Open in Bangor.
Speaking on a Zoom call this afternoon, the reigning 800m freestyle Olympic champion did not appear to be pulling anyone’s leg.
Having left Loughborough University for California in September – following in the footsteps of his twin Nathan, who is on a university scholarship there – he may yet change course again.
“One of the main reasons I left Loughborough was because I wasn’t convinced that I could stay there and still go fast,” Wiffen explained.
“So when I went to California it was kind of an eye-opening experience. Everything was brand new, everything was kind of working.
“We’ve been there a bit of time now, so it’s good to see if it actually does work. That’s why I’m judging it at the trials because I’m going to be very honest with everybody on the call – if I don’t swim fast next week, I’m not staying in California.”
Wiffen has always been good at mic drops. This is another one.
In the run-up to last year’s Irish Open, he declared that his motivation was to break a world record during his home championships. It didn’t happen, but having bounced back from appendicitis to win a gold and two bronze medals at the European Aquatics Championships (short course), he is now targeting personal bests across four events: 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m.
“Well, obviously, I’m expecting to be at my best, so I don’t have to make any decision,” Wiffen smiled.
“I have to be sub-14:40 (for 1500m), around sub-7:42 (for 800m), around 3:44 in the 400m. That’s where I want to be. I’ve done six months of training in California. If I’m around those times – under or close to my PB – then that’s great. That obviously means the training’s working.
“If it doesn’t work, then I obviously have to decide what I’m going to do after.”
Wiffen is not entirely sure how things will go next week. The training he is doing with Nathan and a highly motivated group at the University of California is more intense than he is used to, but they clock up fewer metres overall each week.
It is something he has had to adjust to over time. On the plus side, he feels he can hold his race pace more effectively.
Then there is the Californian lifestyle. It is enjoyable, he admits, but there are distractions that were not present in Loughborough.
Bangor, he says, will be the litmus test.
“If something doesn’t work, I’m not going to stick at it,” he said. “I know I’m going to be fast, but who knows how fast.
“I’m thinking of probably coming back to Dublin if it doesn’t go well. But we have to see. If I swim lights out in Bangor, then my decision is kind of made.
“Loughborough is all about grind, very similar weather to Ireland. I love swimming in the rain because when the weather is dull, you just want to get in the pool.
“The motivation can be harder in California at times. There, it comes from being in a very fast training group where everybody is pushing each other, whereas in Loughborough I feel like it was more self-motivation.
“I was getting in there because I wanted to win and achieve things, whereas now the group is pushing me to swim fast – which I like – but I think I want a bit of that self-motivation back.
“So we’ll have to see how next week goes, but I’ll happily answer your questions after I swim.”
The ultimate goal remains the same. Wiffen says he thinks about winning three gold medals in Los Angeles every day.
“Every single time I get into the water,” he stressed. “I remind myself every time I get in. I picture the people I’ll be racing, even though I don’t know who they’re going to be, because every year somebody new comes through.
“It was like me before Paris, or in 2023 when I was the one coming up. There’s always somebody younger emerging. You’ve got to figure them out – but I’ll have them figured out by the time it matters.
“I’m ready to race. That’s just me. I’d say I’ve actually become, over the years, quite adaptable.”
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Daniel wiffen LA 2028 Olympics Olympics preparation Swimming