Olympic champion Wiffen open to training base change

Wiffen says 'we'll see what happens' after winning 800m gold at Irish Open with 'pretty awful' time

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, geometric painting depicting an Olympic swimmer in mid-stroke, with sharp planes of deep blue, green, and white overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract representation of the athlete's movement and the challenges they face.As an Olympic champion weighs his training options, a cubist interpretation captures the complex, multi-faceted decisions facing elite athletes.Dublin Today

Olympic 800m champion Daniel Wiffen says he is open to changing his training base from the University of California, Berkley, after winning three gold medals at the Irish Open with a 'pretty awful' time in the 800m. Wiffen, who moved to the USA last year after five years at Loughborough University, has been linked with a return to Dublin to train with Swim Ireland.

Why it matters

Wiffen's performance and comments about his future training plans come as he prepares for the Commonwealth Games this summer and looks ahead to the World Championships next year and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. His decision on where to base his training could have a significant impact on his performance and medal prospects in major international competitions.

The details

Wiffen won gold in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m events at the Irish Open, but his time of 7:58.08 in the 800m, which he had targeted at 7:42, was described by the swimmer as 'pretty awful'. Wiffen said he would 'reassess and figure out what I'm doing' regarding his training base, and indicated he would seek input from others before deciding on his next steps. Swim Ireland's high performance director, Andy Reid, said Wiffen 'needs to take time to reflect on his season' and 'work out what is best for him'.

  • Wiffen won three gold medals at the Irish Open, which took place from April 10-12, 2026.
  • The Commonwealth Games are scheduled for this summer in Glasgow.
  • The World Championships are planned for next year, and the 2028 Olympics will be held in Los Angeles.

The players

Daniel Wiffen

A 24-year-old Olympic champion swimmer who currently trains at the University of California, Berkley, but is considering changing his training base.

Nathan Wiffen

Daniel Wiffen's twin brother, who also trains in the USA.

Andy Reid

The high performance director at Swim Ireland, who has had conversations with Wiffen about his future training plans.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I've got these meetings coming up this week and if we see what happens.”

— Daniel Wiffen, Olympic champion swimmer

“We've already had a conversation but we'll follow those up about where he needs to be.”

— Andy Reid, High performance director, Swim Ireland

What’s next

Wiffen plans to have further discussions this week with his coaches and support team to determine the best training base for him leading up to the Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and 2028 Olympics.

The takeaway

Wiffen's openness to changing his training location highlights the importance of finding the right environment and support system for elite athletes to reach their full potential. His decision could have significant implications for his performance in major competitions in the coming years.