Gold Medal Olympian Featured in Famous ‘Game of Thrones’ Scene

Most Olympians live, breathe, and sleep their sport of choice. But occasionally, they find time to do something unique, like appearing in the background of one of the most famous TV scenes of all time.

Irish swimmer Daniel Wiffin, who took home the gold in the 800-meter freestyle during the 2024 Summer Olympics, previously appeared as a background actor in an episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones. However, not just any episode: he was in “The Rains of Castamere,” also known as the Red Wedding. As he told the Olympics website back in 2022, “I didn’t really know about Game of Thrones when I was younger. My parents wouldn’t really let me watch it, but I guess my dad watched it all the time, and then my sister got a really good role in Game of Thrones – she was one of the Frey daughters.”

Specifically, Daniel’s sister Elizabeth Wiffen played Neyela Frey, one of the many granddaughters of the evil Walder Frey, offered to Robb Stark as a potential wife. “So she came in and did her bit,” Daniel continued, “and then we came in for the Red Wedding, in the background – which was pretty cool.”

Daniel Wiffin’s brief stint as an extra in such a pivotal TV moment is a fun footnote to his career as an elite swimmer. You can (kind of) see him in the scene, a fascinating intersection of his Olympic journey and pop culture’s juggernaut.

The next Olympian who runs, swims, or trampolines to the tune of “The Rains of Castamere” might just deserve an automatic gold medal.

Source: Olympics