Olympic champion Wiffen wins BBC NI SPOTY after 'magical year'

Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen has been named the 2024 BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year.

Wiffen enjoyed an unforgettable year in the pool as he became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to win an Olympic gold medal in 36 years with victory in the 800m freestyle at the Paris Games.

The Team Ireland swimmer set an Olympic record time of seven minutes 38.19 seconds in the 800m and capped a memorable Games with a bronze medal in the 1500m.

In triumphing in the 800m, he became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to clinch gold since Stephen Martin and Jimmy Kirkwood with GB's hockey team in 1988 - and the first individual gold medallist since pentathlete Lady Mary Peters at the 1972 Games.

The 23-year-old from Magheralin in County Armagh had underlined his status as an Olympic contender at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha in February by taking gold in the 800m and 1500m events.

"It's amazing," said Wiffen after being presented with the award by his mum Rachel as he landed home for Christmas.

"Sports Personality of the Year is pretty cool, it's one of the biggest awards in sport. I didn't even know, I'm quite surprised. It's going to be a great Christmas in our house and I'll add it to the trophy cabinet.

"It's been such a magical year. Christmas time, it's even better to celebrate it with family. We all worked towards this goal of winning the Olympics and we did it. Now it's time to celebrate."

Wiffen joins an illustrious list of BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year winners, including Rory McIlroy, Carl Frampton, Rhys McClenaghan and 2023 recipient Ciara Mageean.

"The list goes on of how many great people have won this award. The name Rory McIlroy stands out to me as a big golf fan," he added.

"But it's just very special, 2024 was my year. I'm stuck for words, it's quite a surprise."

When asked to reflect on where he was 12 month ago, Wiffen said: "To be honest, you know you're going to win the Olympics from the Christmas before.

"I knew from that Christmas that I was going to win. I guess now there's only a couple more Christmases before we go to LA [for the 2028 Games] and have that dream again."

BBC Sport NI executive editor Neil Brittain said: "It has been a fantastic year for our sporting stars – making it a real challenge for the judges to select a winner.

"It was our best ever Olympics with six athletes from Northern Ireland bringing home medals.

"Many of our top athletes had a remarkable 2024, achieving success that would have won this award in any other year.

"However, what Daniel did in the pool in Paris was absolutely incredible. He told us he would win and he backed that confidence up with a gold-medal performance."

The judging panel for the award was All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winner Oisin McConville, four-time Paralympic champion Michael McKillop, Ireland hockey Olympian Katie Mullan, Northern Ireland women's record cap holder Julie Nelson, Six Nations Grand Slam winner Grace Davitt, BBC Sport NI executive editor Neil Brittain and BBC Sport NI football commentator Thomas Kane.