The Emerald Isle has a new hero in the pool. Daniel Wiffen has claimed Ireland’s first Olympic gold medal in swimming in nearly three decades. The emotional victory saw the 23-year-old wiping away tears as he stood on the podium, proudly draped in the Irish tricolour.

But the gold medal isn’t the only prize Wiffen has his eye on. The young swimmer is also hoping to gain a few more followers on his YouTube channel, a goal he cheekily mentioned when asked how the world could learn more about him.

“People should watch,” Wiffen remarked after his stellar performance in the 800-metre freestyle on Tuesday night. “I vlog every week, showing exactly what an Olympic champion does day-in, day-out in the pool.”

Well, Daniel, brace yourself for a wave of new fans!

With his round glasses giving him a scholarly look, Wiffen couldn’t hold back his tears as the Irish national anthem resonated through La Defense Arena. Though he might not fit the stereotypical image of an Olympic champion, his prowess in the water speaks volumes.

The excitement doesn’t end there for Wiffen. He’s set to make another splash later in the Paris Games, aiming for a second gold in the 1,500 metres on Sunday, the final day of swimming competition.

“I don’t normally cry, so I really hope nobody is going to see that,” Wiffen admitted. “But it did come out of me, and it’s obviously just a special moment. I’ve never heard that national anthem from an Olympics before.”

From all of us at It’s On Ireland, congratulations, Daniel! You’ve made the whole country proud, and we can’t wait to see what you achieve next.