Dan Wiffen Seeks To Inspire At LEN European U23 Championships: McSharry, Sates, Chmielewski & Gose Lining Up In Dublin
Dan Wiffen is looking to secure silverware while inspiring a new generation at the inaugural LEN European U23 Championships which run from 11-13 August in Dublin.
The 22-year-old arrives in the Irish capital less than a fortnight after the conclusion of the World Championships in Fukuoka where he was fourth in the 800 and 1500 free, narrowly missing out on becoming the first Irish swimmer to win a world long-course medal.
The Tokyo Olympian set a European record of 7:39.19 in the 800 to add to his continental standard of 7:25.96 in the short-course pool from December 2021.
Wiffen made history as the first able-bodied swimmer from Northern Ireland to win a Commonwealth swimming medal when he claimed 1500 silver last year in Birmingham behind Australian Sam Short who finished one place ahead of him in Fukuoka.
Wiffen – coached by Andi Manley in Loughborough – is one of around 400 swimmers who’ll take to the blocks at the U23 meet to be held for the first time at the Sport Ireland: National Aquatics Centre.
He told LEN:
“I was very happy with some of my swims at the World Champs and I performed quite well.
“I’m not expecting PB’s (personal bests) here, but wouldn’t be surprised if they came; I’m just aiming for the podium and aiming to get some medals for Ireland!
“It’s amazing to have a big swimming competition in Ireland.
“Hopefully it’s going to inspire a new generation and hopefully I’ll swim fast, get on the podium and definitely inspire some distance swimmers!”
Mona McSharry: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Wiffen will be joined by Swim Ireland teammates Mona McSharry – fifth in the 100 breaststroke at worlds – and Ellen Walshe, who set a national record of 2:10.92 when finishing ninth in the 200IM in Japan.
Polish swimmer Krzysztof Chmielewski – who won 200 fly silver behind Leon Marchand – European 400 free champion Isabel Gose of Germany, world junior 400 free record holder Petar Mitsin (Bulgaria) and double European junior gold medallist Leah Schlosshan (Great Britain) are among those lining up in Dublin.
Athletes from the United States – including several NCAA champions – and Zimbabwe will also join the line-up as well as South Africa for whom Pieter Coetze – who won 100 back gold among three medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – and Matt Sates, 2022 world short-course 2IM champion, will compete.
Walshe said:
“Opening up the event to the USA and South Africa is a pretty good idea because it gets more (top) athletes here with good racing opportunities for everyone, so I’m excited to get out against them and in front of the Irish fans.
“Swimming (traditionally) isn’t that big in Ireland, so hopefully having this meet in Dublin will bring the next generation along with us.
“Hopefully it will motivate some of those coming to watch to take it up and follow what we’re doing, so having them in the crowd will be amazing.”