Ireland’s 2024 Olympic Roster: Daniel Wiffen Will Race 10k Along With Pool Events

The nation of Ireland has revealed its 12-strong roster, its largest ever, for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Six men and six women will compete across 10 individual and 3 relay events later this month, with action beginning on July 27th.

Short course world record holder Daniel Wiffen leads the charge, with the 22-year-old set to race in the 800m and 1500m free.

But Wiffen will also be taking on the 10k open water race, courtesy of the new rule laid down by World Aquatics.

Swimmers who have achieved an Olympic Qualification Time (OQT, aka “A” cut), in the 800 or 1500 free, and swims either race at the Olympic Games, are eligible to swim the 10km open water race in Paris – presuming it doesn’t put countries over the 2-per-country limit.

Thus far, the United States, Spain and now Ireland have taken advantage of this new parameter.

Shane Ryan is also on the men’s roster, with the 30-year-old becoming the nation’s first-ever male swimmer to make three Olympic appearances.

The women’s squad is highlighted by national record holders and now two-time Olympians Danielle Hill, Mona McSharry and Ellen Walshe.

Hill is slated to race the 100m back and 50m free, McSharry the 100m and 200m breast and Walshe will take on the 100m fly and both IM events.

The women’s roster also boasts Ireland’s youngest Olympian across all sports, with relay member Grace Davison just 16 years of age.

Aquatics team leader Jon Rudd said of Ireland’s Olympic lineup, “The largest team and the most competitive team ever, says it all.

“These athletes have been progressing, gaining confidence and delivering in key moments ever since we said farewell to Tokyo.

“We have numerous athletes here that sit amongst the very best in their events on a worldwide basis and there isn’t a swimming or a diving day that anyone can afford to miss.

Our individual event athletes are all high performers in the truest sense and our three relays are at full strength. It’s a real pleasure to be able to name twelve swimmers to this team and to also add Ciara to the diving team alongside Jake.

“There’s talent, ambition and dedication across all of those that will be on the plane with us and we have an excellent team of staff to support them through the Holding Camp which starts on the 16th July, through to the competition days themselves. We know that the island of Ireland will all be behind us – and that spurs us on even more.” (Swim Ireland)

2024 Olympic Games (Swimming) – Paris, France

 

Name Home Programme Home Programme Coach Event/s
Victoria Catterson

 

National Centre (Dublin), Ireland

 

Steven Beckerleg

 

Female 400m Freestyle Relay, 400m Medley Relay (*)

 

Grace Davison

 

Ards SC, Ireland

 

Curtis Coulter

 

Female 400m Freestyle Relay, 400m Medley Relay (*)

 

Tom Fannon

 

National Centre (Dublin), Ireland

 

Steven Beckerleg

 

Male 50m Freestyle

 

Conor Ferguson

 

Loughborough University, England

 

Ian Hulme

 

Male 400m Medley Relay

 

Darragh Greene

 

National Centre (Dublin), Ireland

 

Steven Beckerleg

 

Male 400m Medley Relay

 

Danielle Hill

 

Larne SC, Ireland

 

Peter Hill

 

Female 100m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle Relay & 400m Medley Relay
Max McCusker

 

Millfield School, England

 

Ryan Livingstone

 

Male 400m Medley Relay

 

Mona McSharry

 

University of Tennessee, USA

 

Matt Kredich

 

Female 100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke & 400m Medley Relay
Erin Riordan

 

National Centre (Dublin), Ireland

 

Steven Beckerleg

 

Female 400m Freestyle Relay, 400m Medley Relay (*)

 

Shane Ryan

 

National Centre (Dublin), Ireland

 

Steven Beckerleg

 

Male 400m Medley Relay

 

Ellen Walshe

 

Templeogue SC, Ireland

 

Brian Sweeney

 

Female 100m Butterfly, 200m IM, 400m IM & 400m Medley Relay
Daniel Wiffen

 

Loughborough University, England

 

Andi Manley

 

Male 800m Freestyle, 1500m Freestyle & Open Water 10km

 

(*) – TBC following Female 400m Freestyle Relay

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Danjohnrob
5 months ago

Does Ireland have an anchor for their Women’s 400 MR who is fast enough to get them into the final? That would be a big accomplishment!

As a side note, I wonder whether Siobhan Haughey ever considered swimming for Ireland vs Hong Kong? It would be a long process for her to switch her sporting citizenship now, but I suppose when she had to make that decision Ireland didn’t have as developed a national aquatic program as it does now.

SHRKB8
Reply to  Danjohnrob
5 months ago

Can’t comment on Ireland’s position but Hong Kong REALLY look after their athletes so unless Ireland match Hong Kong’s incentives it would be a no brainer for most people.

Petriasfan
5 months ago

Hmmm…they’ve selected athletes for the women’s 4x100m free relay, an event they failed to finish within the top 16 (combined) from either Fukuoka 23 or Doha 24. I wonder if this means one of the other 16 nations have opted out and have therefore provided a pathway for Ireland to take up a spot?

Last edited 5 months ago by Petriasfan
The unoriginal Tim
5 months ago

Does Wiffen have any prior 10km results?

I hadn’t heard about this new rule until now. It seems good but I remember the selection process for the places being brutal earlier in the season. Was this always known about? Didn’t Paltrinieri have a guy swim for his spot or something?

Last edited 5 months ago by The unoriginal Tim
Admin
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
5 months ago

I’ll admit that I didn’t know about this until a few weeks ago. I can’t say for sure when it was added.

Yes Paltrinieri – but this loophole only works if your country doesn’t have 2 qualifiers already, which Italy wouldn’t. So this rule certainly benefits people from lesser open water nations.

SHRKB8
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 months ago

No prior international 10k results for Wiffen that I am aware of, he may have previous domestic 10k swims to his resume but I am not aware of that.

Qualifying for Paris Openwater races were released prior to 2023 Openwater World Champs and included the ability for eligible Pool 800 and 1500 swimmers to enter the Olympic 10km race provided their nation did not already have 2 swimmers entered each gender. Nations received Olympic Openwater quota spots via the results from 2024 Openwater World Champs results (which each nation could give to any athlete they deemed fit, regardless of the athlete that earned this quota spot at 2024 World Champs) which in the case of Italy (where Verani earned a… Read more »

SHRKB8
5 months ago

This is 🔥🔥🔥. Love it and can’t wait to see it.

CELL
5 months ago

Will he though? Where are they gonna swim?

peter
5 months ago

Where was Wiffen born. Totally confusing

Boknows34
Reply to  peter
5 months ago

Northern Ireland, so was eligible to compete for Ireland or GB.

Peter
Reply to  Boknows34
5 months ago

Why did he chose Ireland

Proud of Ireland
Reply to  Peter
5 months ago

Because he is Irish

Proud of Ireland
5 months ago

Up the Ra

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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