BUCS Championships; Wiffen Returns with Triple Gold

The 2025 BUCS Championships took place over the weekend at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, with an Irish contingent in action throughout the meet. The event included a return to the competition pool for double Olympic medallist Daniel Wiffen, who came away with a hat-trick of wins.

Friday marked the one-year anniversary of Wiffen’s historic World Championship gold medal in the 800m Freestyle, where he followed up with gold in the 1500m Freestyle days later. The Loughborough swimmer secured victory in the 1500m Freestyle on the opening night of the BUCS Championships, touching home first in 15:03.20. Fellow Irishman Nathan Wiffen finished second in 15:33.73, ensuring a one-two for Loughborough. Meanwhile, Stirling swimmer Thomas Leggett was part of a Mixed 400m Medley Relay team that placed third on the podium with a time of 3:53.93.

Saturday was a busy evening for the Irish contingent, highlighted by Daniel Wiffen completing the double in the distance events. The Olympic champion dominated the 800m Freestyle to secure gold ahead of Loughborough teammates Tyler Melbourne-Smith (8:01.69) and Harry Wynne-Jones (8:08.29). Thomas Leggett returned to the relay podium as his Stirling team finished second in the Men’s 400m Freestyle Relay with a time of 3:20.90. Leggett also placed seventh in the Men’s 100m Freestyle Final, clocking 51.24. Elsewhere, Bath’s Dylan Registe finished tenth in the 50m Freestyle (25.07), while Nathan Wiffen switched events, competing in the Men’s 200m Backstroke Final and finishing tenth in 2:09.83.

Daniel Wiffen wrapped up his return to competition with his third gold of the weekend, this time in the Men’s 400m Freestyle Final. He faced a strong field, including swimming royalty James Guy. Guy set the pace throughout the race and led until the final 50 meters, Wiffen surged ahead in the last stretch, finishing in 28.16 to secure his third title of the weekend in 3:49.35, a new BUCS record, with Guy finishing second as a guest in 3:50.04. Nathan Wiffen clocked 3:57.86 to claim bronze. Thomas Leggett rounded off his first BUCS Championships with an eighth-place finish in the 50m Freestyle (23.58).

For Daniel Wiffen, this marked his final appearance at the BUCS Championships – a meet where the Loughborough swimmer has enjoyed huge success. His achievements include six BUCS Records, over 18 titles, eight Men’s Championships, and eight Team Championships, as well as being named MVP on five occasions over his four years of competition.

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