Niamh Campbell
Yesterday at 11:07
Daniel Wiffen is the first athlete from Northern Ireland to secure an Olympic gold medal in nearly four decades – but two counties are currently battling it out to claim him.
After the 23-year-old swimmer made history in Paris on Tuesday night – securing gold in the 800m freestyle final and breaking a record in the course of it – Down GAA posted to X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Congratulations to Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen from Magheralin who won the Gold Medal for Ireland in the pool this evening.
“A wonderful achievement for Daniel, and joy for his family and the community of Magheralin.”
However, Armagh GAA also posted to the social media site last night, writing: “ARMAGH GOES GOLD AGAIN.
“Here Daniel Wiffen’s twin can be seen watching the Armagh game on Sunday before watching his brother grab Gold at the Paris Olympics today!!
“Well done to Daniel Wiffen! The pride of Armagh (past pupil of St Pat’s Armagh) & Ireland along with our county players.”
Wiffen is from Magheralin – which falls under Co Down jurisdiction, but is right on the border of Co Armagh, near Lurgan.
There were a few spats that followed between online users under both accounts – one person saying that the [geographical] boundaries need to be checked; another commending the Down GAA account for ‘getting in there before the Armagh boys’.
Now though, both Wiffen and his dad Jonathan seem to have settled the argument once and for all.
Speaking to BBC’s Good Morning Ulster radio programme on Wednesday, his father said: "My daughters are saying there's a big debate.
“The postcode for our house is County Armagh, although the village is in Co Down. The boys went to school in Armagh so they consider themselves County Armagh."
Wiffen also said in a post-win interview: “What can we say? We’re All-Ireland champions and Olympic gold medallists. What a great county…”
At the weekend, Armagh won their first Sam Maguire in 22 years, and now they’ll have a gold medallist to welcome back soon too.
An incredible week for the Orchard County indeed.
by pickneyboy3000
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