A rising star from regional Australia, teenage swimmer Sienna Toohey has secured her place on the senior Australian Dolphins team after an outstanding performance at the Australian Swimming Trials in Adelaide.
Competing at Oaklands Park in South Australia during the six-day Trials from June 9 to June 14, Toohey surpassed expectations by breaking a 20-year-old record previously held by Olympic silver medalist Leisel Jones. Her winning time of 1:06.55 in the 100m breaststroke eclipsed Jones’s 2000 Sydney Olympic silver medal time of 1:07.31, earning Toohey her debut selection for the Dolphins.
This impressive achievement not only marks a personal best for Toohey but also guarantees her participation at the upcoming World Championships in Singapore, scheduled from July 11 to August 3.
Reflecting on her success, Toohey expressed a mix of excitement and relief. “I’m just so excited because I worked so hard,” she said. “I was so nervous and so happy I have done it.”
From Small Town to National Stage
Hailing from Albury, New South Wales, Toohey’s journey has been marked by challenges, including a lack of access to an indoor swimming pool during winter months. Initially interested in water polo, she ultimately chose to focus on swimming—a decision she says she does not regret. “Obviously, I chose swimming. It was the right choice,” she remarked.
In preparation for the Trials, Toohey relocated to Canberra for six weeks to train intensively, a move she described as difficult. Despite the challenges of living away from home, she was buoyed by the support of her family, who were present at the Aquatic Centre to cheer her on.
Looking Ahead: World Championships in Singapore
The 2025 World Championships will be held at the Singapore Sports Hub and Sentosa Island, featuring six aquatic disciplines: swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving. The event is expected to attract around 2,500 of the world’s top aquatic athletes.
With her record-breaking performance and selection to the Dolphins, Sienna Toohey is poised to make a significant impact on the international swimming stage in the months ahead.
