Daniel Wiffen had 'doubts' before securing silver in final event in pool at Commonwealth Games with 1500m freestyle silver
Daniel Wiffen admitted he had “doubts” over his prospects in the 1500m freestyle final at the Commonwealth Games after finishing outside the medals in the 800m.
The Team Northern Ireland swimmer had described himself as a “medal guarantee” for Glasgow and deliver a silver medal in his final event at the Tollcross Swimming Centre behind Australia’s Sam Short.
Ellie McCartney claimed bronze in the women’s 200m breaststroke on a sparkling night for Northern Ireland on Wednesday, with Kate O’Connor claiming the country’s first gold medal of the 2026 Games and a first in athletics since 1986.
Wiffen finished 2.69 seconds behind 400m and 800m freestyle gold medallist Short, who won in a time of 14:42.11, with Benjamin Goedemans of Australia earning bronze, one second further behind.
“I’m so happy... coming into that race, I had all doubts in my mind after the 800," the 25-year-old told TNT Sports as he also turned his focus to next month's European Championships. "But me and my coaches, Andi Manley and Steve Beckerleg, were like 'just tunnel vision for this race'.
"When I walked out it was tunnel vision, make sure I was going to race it the way I wanted to race it.
“I’m really happy with the time, especially, because I thought anything could happen tonight.
“I’m still 10 seconds off my best, but it’s a season's best...I’m not a big fan of season's bests, having said that, but we have to take these things.
"Obviously, I’m not in the greatest shape I’ve ever been but, at the end of the day, we’re in a four-year cycle and we’re getting ready for the Olympics in LA.
"That time there, it’s faster than what I was in 2022... so I’m happy.
"After this, obviously, two weeks to Euros and see what we can go again."
Wiffen has found it difficult to replicate the form that took him to gold in the 1500m and 800m World Championships and his dream Olympic success in 2024.
Last July, surgery on his appendicitis prevented him from defending his world titles.
However, his medal-securing performance over the longest distance in the pool on Wednesday showed glimpses of the form that established Wiffen as the top long-distance swimmer in the world in 2024.
Meanwhile, McCartney was a surprise third behind home favourite Angharad Evans and South Africa’s Kaylene Corbett after posting the sixth fastest time in the women’s 200m breaststroke semi-finals, but produced an impressive performance for bronze in a time of 2:24.73.
The 21-year-old Enniskillen swimmer, who narrowly held off Australia's Ella Ramsay by 0.16 seconds, was celebrating her first senior international medal.
"I'm over the moon. I didn't know what to expect coming in tonight, but I just wanted to give it my all," McCartney told BBC Sport.
"It was the last individual race I have. I just wanted to end it off on a high."