Top-ranked Daniel Wiffen targets historic World medal in Japan

World number one-ranked Daniel Wiffen will lead a 12-strong Ireland swimming team into July's World Aquatics Championships in Japan.

Wiffen’s recent performances at the Stockholm Open see him as the current world leader in both the 1500m and 800m freestyle, with his 1500m performance making him one of the four fastest men to ever compete over the distance.

Joining Wiffen on the Fukuoka-bound team will be Mona McSharry, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist, Ellen Walshe, a world short course championships medallist and exciting prospect, 16-year-old John Shortt, who recently wowed the crowd at the Irish Open championships.

"Going into the world championships, I’m definitely hoping to come out with a personal best," said Wiffin. "And I think I can say after my swims at the weekend, being world ranked number one in the 1500m freestyle, that I would be a world championship medal hopeful.

"I guess that as a medal has never been won by an Irish athlete at a world long course championships that I’d like to be the first to do that.

"I’m really looking forward to the team that’s going to Fukuoka, it’s going to be a great pre-camp and I can say that my Youtube videos (@WiffenTwins) are going to be very cool, we’ll get everyone involved; a big team will definitely boost the atmosphere and we’ll all be ready to race fast in Japan."

The team for Fukuoka consists of seven men and five women, with six of the team making their world championships debut.

Ireland will also enter teams into three key relay events in Japan - the male and female 400m medley relays and the female 400m freestyle relay, with this championships providing one of only two opportunities by which nations can qualify relays for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Ireland team: Vi