KUCHING: Olympic gold medallist Daniel Wiffen is not just clocking kilometres in the pool—he’s also dipping into the flavours of Sarawak during his training stint in this city.
While maintaining a strict nutrition plan in preparation for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, the Irish swimmer admitted that the allure of local cuisine has been hard to resist, thanks to the hospitality of Power Aquatics Swimming Club (PASC) advisor Voon Yong Hui.
“To be honest, I’m trying to eat a bit safe because I’m swimming all the time.
“But I also had nasi goreng (fried rice) and some noodle dishes. The food is amazing,” said Wiffen in an interview with Sarawak Tribune recently.
Wiffen, who arrived in Kuching on July 11 and is training at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre until July 23, has been balancing high-performance routines with cultural experiences.
“I definitely can’t remember the names of the local dishes, but yeah, we tried a couple and we’ve been liking them. I’m a big noodle fan,” he said.
Although he hails from Ireland, Wiffen explained that his taste for spicy food developed during his childhood years in India.
“Probably not common for an Irish (person) to like noodles, but I got used to spices when I was younger, so I kind of like all the food here,” he added.
Voon, who has been accompanying the team throughout their stay, has also taken Wiffen and his coach and friend Felix Auböck around the city to experience Sarawak’s food scene, carefully balancing culinary discovery with dietary discipline.
At his level of training, Wiffen consumes approximately 7,500 calories per day to sustain a gruelling weekly workload of up to 100 kilometres in the pool.
“Luckily for me, at the level I’m at, I have a nutritionist who plans out everything for me.
“But we’re eating about 7,500 calories a day just to be able to sustain my training volume of 100 kilometres a week,” he said.
Despite his cautious approach, Wiffen expressed genuine appreciation for Sarawak’s food culture and hospitality.
As Sarawak continues to establish itself as a high-performance sports destination in Southeast Asia, Wiffen’s experience highlights not only the state’s world-class infrastructure but also its rich and welcoming food culture.
