Swim Wales pays tribute to an outstanding career in the pool. Swim Wales and the wider aquatics community today celebrate the career of Daniel Jervis as the Welsh Olympic swimmer announces his retirement from competitive swimming.
Jervis, 28, has represented Great Britain and Wales at the highest level for over a decade, and Swim Wales has been honoured to support Dan over the past 15 years. A specialist in distance freestyle events, he has proudly represented Wales on the international stage.
Dan represented Team Wales at three consecutive Commonwealth Games, winning 1500m bronze at Glasgow 2014 and a silver medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Games in the same event. Unfortunately, Dan’ chances of winning a third Commonwealth medal at Birmingham 2022 were cut short when he contracted Covid.
At Olympic level, Dan made his Team GB debut at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games, where he finished in an incredible 5th place in the Olympic 1500m final. He became a two time Olympian when he qualified for the Paris 2024 Games showing great resilience to bounce back from the disappointment of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Dan has also been a consistent team member for Aquatics GB at European and World Championship level since 2014 and has dominated domestic British Championship men’s distance swimming since his first British title in 2017. Since then, he has gone on to claim the British 1500m title for seven connective years and also claimed multiple titles in the 400m and 800m freestyle events.
Dan has been an inspirational figure in swimming, not only through his remarkable athletic achievements but also through his commitment to inclusion and acceptance. Since coming out as gay in 2022, he has been a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, using his platform to champion inclusivity and inspire others in the sport.
Reflecting on his decision, Dan said: “Swimming has given me incredible opportunities, challenges, and memories that will stay with me forever. Representing Wales on the international stage has been the greatest honour of my life—it’s something I’ll always cherish. I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved in the pool, but even more so of the person I’ve become along the way. If my journey has inspired just one person to chase their dreams or be their true self, then it’s all been worth it. Now, I’m excited for the next chapter—traveling, experiencing new things, and even trying skiing for the first time!”
Born and raised in Resolven, Neath, Dan’s career has inspired countless young swimmers across Wales. His dedication, resilience, and passion for the sport have made him a true role model both in and out of the water.
Ross Nicholas, National Performance Director of Swim Wales, paid tribute to Jervis’ impact: “I would like to congratulate Dan, and all the coaches and practitioners who have supported him, on a truly phenomenal career in swimming. Dan has sustained a remarkable level of success at international level for over a decade and represented both Wales and Great Britain with the upmost professionalism, dedication and pride throughout his career. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dan for all he has given to the sport and the inspiration that he has given to the generations of young Welsh swimmers aiming to follow in his footsteps.”
Fergus Feeney, Chief Executive Officer of Swim Wales, also shared his admiration for Dan’s career: “Dan has been an outstanding ambassador for Welsh swimming throughout his career. His achievements in the pool speak for themselves, but beyond that, his resilience, sportsmanship, and advocacy for inclusivity have left a lasting impact. He has inspired a generation of swimmers, and we are incredibly proud of everything he has accomplished. We wish him every success in the future.”
Swim Wales would like to extend its heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Dan Jervis for his contribution to the sport and wish him the very best in the next chapter of his journey.
