Daniel Wiffen: I have one of the best mentalities in the sport

"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one".

That's a quote from the late Brian Clough. And it's fair to say that Cloughie did not lack confidence, and that's what made him such a successful manager, particularly during his time as Nottingham Forest manager.

"If you don't feel confident yourself, you can't possibly spread confidence to your players". Another quote from Clough, yet one that goes without saying.

A heightened sense of confidence can drift into arrogance and brashness. How one displays it and the results that follow marks many out.

Daniel Wiffen's rise through the swimming ranks certainly marked him out and he has the confidence to go with it.

On the day Team Ireland confirmed the 12 swimmers for the Paris Olympics, Wiffen was in good form as he spoke to the media, relishing what might transpire in the French capital.

"I'd say it's the pinnacle of our sport," he said.

"Olympic gold is the highest achievement I could ever win. It's just like the best thing in any sport I would say."

And clearly Wiffen wants to be the best. He's achieved a lot so far.

He served notice to everyone on 10 December of last year when he became the first Irish swimmer to set a new world record, shaving 2.96 seconds off Grant Hackett's time in the 800m freestyle short-course.

Prior to that he won gold in the 1500m freestyle at the European U-23 Championships in Dublin along with silver in the 800m and 400m events.

With expectations duly raised, Wiffen smashed them at last February's World Championships in Doha, when he claimed gold in the 1500m and 800m freestyle and walked off with the best male swimmer award from the event.

And now Paris beckons, where Wiffen, who turns 23 on 14 July, will compete in the