NI Olympian Dan Wiffen has been branded “the Clark Kent of swimming” by the world’s fastest man.
The gold and bronze swimming medallist revealed that he struck up a friendship with track and field star Noah Lyles while the pair were getting their hair cut at the barber shop in the Olympic Village in Paris.
Speaking to RTE Radio 1’s Saturday Sport programme, the 23-year-old from Magheralin said the USA’s 100m sprint champion is the most famous athlete he has connected with at the games.
“We were getting our hair cut together in the barbers in the village and he goes and does an interview about me after the 100 metres saying I’m the Clark Kent of swimming,” the 800m freestyle world record holder explained to laughter from the hosts.
“I’m a big fan.
“The sprint made me like him.”
Lyles won gold for his energetic performance in the 100m and picked up a bronze medal in the 200m which took place just after he was declared free of Covid-19 – his collapse on the track after the final sparked panic in Paris and beyond.
Noah Lyles took 100 metres gold in a photo finish at the Stade de France (Martin Rickett/PA)
Wiffen, who missed out on a second gold medal in the 1,500m event when he finished third, was set to carry the Irish flag during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 games.
But he pulled out on Sunday afternoon, citing ill health.
Rower Fintan McCarthy will now carry the tricolour alongside Sligo swimmer Mona McSharry, who won Ireland’s first medal of Paris 2024 after taking bronze in the women’s 100m breaststroke.
Speaking a day before the games officially end, Wiffen expressed relief that his bronze medal came with a two-year guarantee as third-placed athletes complain about the iconic round gongs “eroding”.
Organisers have vowed to replace athletes’ rusty medals after Team USA skateboarder Nyjah Huston revealed the condition of his bronze piece a week after winning it in Paris.
The 29-year-old showed his followers on Instagram how his medal had begun chipping shortly after returning home to the States.
Daniel Wiffen and rapper Flavor Flav attend Omega House Paris 2024. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Omega)
“No one seems to know why – it seems to be something wrong with the coating on it,” Wiffen said.
“Mine is not that bad, I’m sure it will end up getting to that stage.”
The Loughborough University student, who opened up about his future plans, took a leave of absence to prepare for the Olympics which was impossible to combine with exam preparation.
“I did the first semester,” he said.
“Then I got a leave of absence [for half a year] to make sure I got a place on the podium.”
And it appears Wiffen is in no rush back to class.
“After this we’ve got all the home comings and everything,” he said.
“I can’t wait – open top bus down O’Connell Street is going to be great.
“Then I’m going to take my training partners [from Belgium and Austria] around Ireland, showing them everywhere… we are going to go to golf courses.
“Then I’m off the Barcelona, Belgium and Italy before starting back training in October.” .