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Welcome to the club – Daniel Wiffen makes switch in sports after bringing Olympic gold and bronze medals to golf club
Magheralin was the scene of one of many homecomings for Northern Ireland’s sporting heroes after the 2024 Games in Paris
DANIEL WIFFEN is used to dominating in the swimming pool - now he is looking to do the same on the golf course.
The 23-year-old is a double Olympic medallist after winning gold in the 800m freestyle and bronze in the 1,500m in Paris.
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On Thursday, however, he swapped the swimming gear for the golf club after teeing off at Edenmore House - the Magheralin venue that is home to an 18-course golf course.
The Co Down resort shared a photo of the Armagh star alongside their PGA Professional Andy Manson, who had been giving Wiffen lessons that morning.
The photo was captioned as follows: "Welcome home @daniel.wiffen
"Daniel recently became a member here at Edenmore. Before teeing off today he had a lesson with our Pro Andy @edenmoreproshop, welcome to the club Daniel"
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Wiffen himself shared photos of his first venture on the course to his Instagram Story.
Magheralin was the scene of one of many homecomings for Northern Ireland’s sporting heroes after the 2024 Games in Paris.
Athletes from the region picked up a record four gold medals thanks to swimmers Wiffen and Jack McMillan, rower Hannah Scott and gymnast Rhys McClenaghan.
Magheralin came to a standstill as crowds gathered to congratulate the Olympic hero.
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Speaking to the PA news agency outside St Patrick’s Parish Hall, Wiffen said: “It’s so cool, I didn’t think we’d have this big of a turnout and its amazing. I’m stuck for words.”
Asked how local supporters have reacted to him, the Co Armagh swimmer said: “They’ve been saying congratulations and ‘I remember when you used to altar serve here’ and stuff like that.”
Daniel Wiffen reveals free goodies at Olympics including Samsung flip phone after swimming medal heroics
Wiffen said the first thing he did when he got home was go to bed, because he was still feeling ill after competing in an open water swim in the River Seine.
The illness meant he had to pull out as a flagbearer for Team Ireland during the closing ceremony.
He said he has recovered now and added: “I’m ready to party.”
Daniel Wiffen is already targeting repeating his Olympic form at Los Angeles 2028 - and predicted his brother will star, too.
His twin brother Nathan is a swimmer with pedigree himself, having finished fourth in the 1,500m at the 2024 European Championships.
The Wiffen brothers have a YouTube channel together, named the Wiffen Twins, while they worked as extras in Game of Thrones, namely in the iconic 'Red Wedding' scene.
While close-knit siblings outside of the pool, they are also competitive inside of it.
So much so that Daniel declared his desire to swim against his twin at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics while insisting that he would come out on top.
At the civic reception in Dublin held in honour of the Irish Olympians, he said: "I am sure in LA we will be both on the podium.
"I hope everyone looks forward to cheering on the both of us and we will hopefully be making Ireland proud with a gold and a silver.
"Me obviously with the gold one. He can have the silver."