Mum of swimming freak Daniel Wiffen in ‘state of shock’ after world record
The mum of swimming’s newest superstar has shared her priceless reaction to the moment her son obliterated Grant Hackett’s world record.
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The mother of Ireland’s new world record swimmer has told of her pride and said: It’s twincredible.
This time last year, Daniel Wiffen became the first Irish swimmer to break a European record.
Commentator John Kenny hailed the performance, telling viewers they have “just witnessed the birth of an Irish superstar”.
Twelve months on, the RTE man’s words ring true after Wiffen – who starred in Game of Thrones as a child alongside his brother, Nathan – won his third gold of the European Short Course Championships in Romania today, reports the Sun Ireland.
The 22-year-old Co Down man also smashed an iconic world record by almost three seconds. He obliterated legendary swimmer Grant Hackett’s time, clocking 7:20.46.
The Australian had held that 800 free world record since August 3, 2001, less than a month after Wiffen was born. He is the first Irishman ever to hold a World swimming record.
Speaking after the race, Wiffen said: “That world record, I think it’s one of the oldest in the books. To beat his record is just amazing. I look up to him every day.”
It is Wiffen’s third gold medal this week after he added the 800m to the 1500m and 400m freestyle titles he snared.
Daniel and his identical brother Nathan Wiffen – who was also in the final today, finishing 8th – have been making waves in their swimming careers despite still only being 22-years-old.
And speaking to the Irish Sun, their mum, Rachel, said she is still in a “state of shock” and “very proud” of both her boys.
She said: “We are very proud as it is an extraordinary achievement. Daniel’s performance is Ireland’s best ever swim.
“We had to watch on the telly as we left Romania to come home for a wedding.
“Daniel told us he had stomach aches that morning, and we weren’t sure if he’d ever swim, so to beat the world record is just amazing.”
Rachel also hailed Nathan’s achievement to get to the European final, which she said is all the more remarkable, given he wasn’t allowed to train during Covid and had to swim in a portable pool out the back garden.
‘FULL TIME JOB’
She added: “Daniel was in Loughborough University in England and so was able to continue training, but Nathan was back in Ireland and wasn’t able to access the pool.
“So he trained out the back with his brother Ben, who is also one of their coaches. That set him back terrible so it’s amazing to see how he has come on.”
Rachel – a talented underage swimmer herself – said bringing the twins training as kids was itself a “full time job”.
She added: “They trained about five or six days a week 5am to 7.15am. And then again after school. It was tough but was worth it.”
When not swimming as kids, the brothers pursued an acting career.
RED WEDDING WITNESSES
In 2013, they were extras at the Red Wedding, the infamous Game Of Thrones episode where the Stark family are slaughtered.
Rachel said they landed the part after GOT bosses spotted them on set.
She said: “My daughter Beth was 14 at the time and she had a feature part as one of Walder Frey’s children.
“When I brought her to get measured up for fitting I had the twins with me. When the producers saw them, they wanted to find a part for them and that’s what they did.
“I was their chaperone as they were underage so it was great seeing everything behind the scenes. I think I was nearly more fascinated by it than them”.
Speaking to the Irish Sun last year, Daniel told how, in a typical week, the lads from Magheralin swim 100km.
Daniel said: “We’d usually be in the pool for our first session at 6.45am and then we’re back in for the second one at 6pm.
“I love the training regimen and how it keeps you active. Even with the travelling, because you get to see nice countries.”
This article originally appeared on the Sun Ireland and was reproduced with permission.
Originally published as Mum of swimming freak Daniel Wiffen in ‘state of shock’ after world record
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