Based on his performances at the recent World Aquatic Championship's Daniel Wiffen's graph continues to rise.
The 22-year-old did not make the podium, finishing fourth respectively in the 800m and 1500m in Fukuoka, Japan, but he did set a new European record in the former event.
Already assured himself of a place at Paris 2024 after setting a new Irish record of 7:43.81 in the heats, Wiffen then found remarkable improvement in the final to obliterate that mark, swimming 7:39.19 to eclipse the European record of 7:39.27 set by Gregorio Paltrinieiri at the Worlds in 2019.
Beginning on Friday and running until Sunday, the National Aquatic Centre at the Sport Ireland Campus will host the inaugural European U23 Swimming Championships. Wiffen, as well as 2021 World short course silver medallist Ellen Walshe and Irish record holders Victoria Catterson will be among those taking part.
Ahead of the event, Wiffen told RTÉ Sport: "Hopefully I can get on the podium and inspre a new generation of people. I know in my events it's still pretty stacked but I'm going to be ranked number one. Ireland can hold their own at this meet, we could have multiple people on the podium."
While not being amongst the medals was disappointing for the Co Antrim competitor at the Worlds, there was still plenty of positives to take from that competition.
"I've improved from last year, improved my rank from last year, but I'm very hungry to get on the podium. It's not great not to make the podium but I'm still happy, I got a PB in the 800m and a European record."
"I didn't really expect to break a European record when I was in Japan and I thought a medal would come with that. Still the record is great, I have it now in the short course and long course; I'm the fastest ever 800m swimmer in Europe which is pretty cool in both disciplines."
In exactly a year from now, the swimming programme will have concluded at the Paris Games, and Wiffen is determined to leave a mark on what will have happened in the pool.
"The dream of every swimmer is to make the Olympics. My goal has been the same throughout the three years after Tokyo: it's been a build-up to medalling, going for gold, and breaking a world record.
"Since I was young I've wanted to break a world record. If you break a world record at the Olympics you're going to win gold; world record is my dream, that's what I want to do."
