Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen presented with James Joyce award
Posted 24 October, 2024
Olympic swimmer Daniel Wiffen receives the James Joyce award from Stéphane de Bairéid, auditor of UCD's Literary and Historical Society Credit: Brooke Reid Dwyer
Swimming superstar Daniel Wiffen has been honoured by (opens in a new window)UCD’s Literary and Historical Society (L&H) with the James Joyce Award, in recognition of his sporting accomplishments.
A two-time world champion, he made history at the Paris Games winning a gold in the 800m Freestyle and bronze in the 1500m Freestyle. He was also the first Irish athlete ever to compete in Marathon Swimming at the 2024 Games.
Wiffen received the James Joyce award from Stéphane de Bairéid, auditor of the L&H, in the Fitzgerald Chamber during the Society's 170th session.
"We were delighted to present Daniel with the James Joyce Award," said Stéphane.
"An Olympic Gold medallist, a world record holder and a role model. He truly embodies the Joycean values of this prestigious award."
Speaking ahead of accepting the award, the Olympian swimmer said he found inspiration in Joyce when considering the next stage of his “swimming odyssey”.
“When I was reading up on this award, and saw that Joyce’s quote, ‘A man of genius makes no mistakes, his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery’… I think that’s how we’re kind of related,” he told (opens in a new window)the Irish Times.
“So basically when you make a mistake, you see it from a learning point of view, like I did when I finished fourth twice at the 2023 World Championships. I used that to make me better and win Olympic gold in Paris.”
The two-time world champion and gold medal Olympian was honoured with the James Joyce Award in recognition of his sporting accomplishments Credit: Brooke Reid Dwyer
Considered among the highest honour that any student body in Ireland can bestow, the James Joyce award is given by the L&H Society to those who have achieved outstanding success in their given field.
Recipients have ranged from respected academics, lauded political figures, skilled actors and, like James Joyce himself, writers.
Previous awardees include Tony Hawk, Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, Scottish singer Emeli Sandé, actor Will Ferrell, and former speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
