Daniel Wiffen, Olympic champion, is inspired by his mother's recovery from cancer as he prepares for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Rachel Wiffen, diagnosed with leukaemia last November, is now in remission.
Key points
Daniel Wiffen is an Olympic champion.
Rachel Wiffen was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Rachel Wiffen is now in remission.
Daniel Wiffen is preparing for the Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow.
Mentioned in this story
Daniel WiffenRachel WiffenGlasgow
Commonwealth Games
Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen says he will use his mother's recovery from cancer as "motivation" as he prepares for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.
Rachel Wiffen was diagnosed with leukaemia last November, but as she attended the Northern Ireland squad announcement for this summer's showpiece event, she was able to confirm she is now in remission.
"The diagnosis came just before the European Championships in November so it was a hard hitter for our family," explained 2024 Olympic gold medallist Wiffen.
"I was in America but I was luckily coming back for the Europeans and so the news kind of broke at a time where I was happy because I could come back.
"But it was sad for my twin brother Nathan, because he was still in America. My mum is my number one supporter. She brought me to those early morning sessions. She helped me with everything."
Wiffen added: "I would not even be a swimmer today if it wasn't for my mum and dad. She wasn't able to travel to the European Championships.
"It's the first competition she's actually never gone to and so that was really hard not to see her in the stands when I was racing."
Rachel received her treatment at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital and the family's story of the attention and love they received from the staff will be one that will resonate with so many families.
"Thanks to all the nurses and doctors because they're the reason my mum is still here," added Daniel.
"They put in the hard work and I met all of them, I brought my medals in to show them as well.
"I tried to do my part to support these people who are helping everybody. They put their lives on hold to help her and I've got nothing but respect and love for them. And I'm so happy that my mum was able to come out on the other side."
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"I'm very proud, because everybody says you need to have a strong woman leading your life. And for me, that's my mum and she's very strong," Wiffen added.
"It's very nice that I can win all this stuff and be Olympic champion and win Europeans, worlds, and everything but daily life still goes on.
"I've got to deal with these things as well, and my family does. So to see my mum overcome that, that's just new motivation for me, that my family's as strong as I am, and I'm as strong as my mum is.
"Iāll be dedicating all my wins at the Commonwealth Games to her. So every time I win, I'll be pointing out to her in the crowd."
Wiffen has recently returned home with his training base now in Dublin but his mum's illness had nothing to do with a decision that was purely based on his swimming needs.
With the European Championships following the Commonwealth Games in August it could be a big summer in the pool for the 24-year-old.
"It was an easy process to come back and I definitely identified some things that I wasn't doing right in California," he explained.
"That's the reason why I came back, it was to try and put my head down and actually get some proper work done.
"It's going well. I'm looking forward to the summer. I'm looking forward to seeing how fast I can push it.
"I don't want to say I'm going to break a world record, I'll tell you a bit closer to the time after I do a couple more weeks' worth of training. But the way it's going, I'm pretty fast."
Wiffen, McMillan and Firth lead NI entry
Wiffen is joined in Team NI's swimming squad by fellow Olympic gold medallist Jack McMillan and Paralympic champion Bethany Firth.
The trio headline a 15-strong team, which also contains Para swimmer Barry McClements, who became the first Team NI swimmer to win a Commonwealth Games medal in 2022.
Team GB Olympic relay gold medallist McMillan will race win the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle.
Firth will defend her S14 200m freestyle title while McClements will go in the S9 100m backstroke and the S10 100m fly.
Ellie McCartney, who won two gold medals and a bronze at the 2023 youth Commonwealth Games, will compete in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, along with the 200m individual medley.
Grace Davison, who won a gold and bronze medal at the same youth games as McCarthey, will swim in the 100m and 200m for the women's freestyle and backstroke.
Danielle Hill made her Commonwealth debut as a 14-year-old in 2014 and returns to Glasgow for a fourth Games, while Conor Ferguson is back in the team aftr he missed the last edition four years ago.
Lottie Cullen will be going to her first Games in the 100m and 200m backstroke, while Adam Bradley, Matthew Hamilton, Paddy Johnston Alana Burns Atkin, Victoria Catterson and Emily Hughes will swim in the relay races.