Home-grown Olympic Gold-winning swimming star Daniel Wiffen could be afforded a very special honour in his own borough.
The former pupil of St Patrick’s Grammar School in Armagh blew the opposition away at the Paris Games last year.
The Magheralin swimmer claimed gold in the men’s 800m freestyle and added a bronze for good measure in the 1,500m.
And, in doing so, he became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to win an individual Olympic gold medal since 1972, when Dame Mary Peters returned triumphant from Munich after her powerhouse pentathlon performance.
Daniel Wiffen has been an inspiration to many and his success has encouraged many others to aim for the top, proving that hard work and perseverance can turn dreams into reality.
Earlier this year, he returned to St Patrick’s Grammar after donating a £25,000 share of an Olympic grant to his former school to help fund a gym.
Six NI athletes received a grant to be spent on projects within Northern Ireland.
The awards were £20,000 for a gold medal, £10,000 for a silver medal and £5,000 for a bronze medal. And having won both gold and bronze medals in Paris, Daniel received the highest award for donation at £25,000.
Daniel has always maintained excellent links with his old grammar school in Armagh and they were very supportive throughout his swimming journey.
The £25,000 donation allowed the school to purchase the required gym equipment.
Daniel, along with his twin brother Nathan and elder brother Ben, all past pupils, were so proud to visit the finished gym at the school in April, a facility which has provided an ongoing legacy for current students and future sports stars from the school.
Given his pride in his school and the borough and the school and borough’s pride in him, the young sports star could soon put his home village on the map in a very special way.
For his name could be added to street signage as a permanent celebration of his success.
The DUP has proposed a twofold honour to mark his magic in the water.
A notice of motion will now be brought to the monthly meeting of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, where it will be proposed by Councillor Peter Haire and seconded by Lord Mayor Stephen Moutray.
It seeks to recognise Daniel’s “outstanding sporting achievements”.
The motion proposes that a “recognition plaque” is erected at the South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon, where Daniel trains when he is at home.
This is to “honour his historic accomplishment and to inspire future generations of local athletes”.
And the DUP motion also seeks to “update” ABC Council boundary signage for Magheralin.
If approved, the words ‘Home of Olympic Gold Medallist Daniel Wiffen’ will be added to signage, this being in “recognition of his contribution to local, national and international sports”.
The notice of motion will be considered later this evening (Monday).
