Sienna Toohey’s tears as superstar teen takes national title
A new superstar of Australian swimming has emerged, after 16-year-old Sienna Toohey took out the 100m women’s breaststroke title with the eighth fastest time by an Australian ever.
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A new young superstar of Australian swimming has emerged, with 16-year-old Albury prospect Sienna Toohey taking out the 100m women’s breaststroke title at the national swimming trials in Adelaide, clocking the eighth fastest time by an Australian ever.
The teenage sensation was overcome with emotion after racing a breathtaking 1:06.55 time to top event favourite Ella Ramsey, who recorded a 1:06.86 time.
Toohey entered the trials in blistering form, crushing Olympic icon Leisel Jones’ Australian Age record in the 100m breaststroke earlier this year, and will now compete with her first senior team at the World Championships in Singapore.
“It was definitely tears of relief,” Toohey said of her post-race emotions.
“Spending time away from family for that long (during training), it was the hardest it has ever been for me - I love them so much so it was very hard not having them during training.
“I’m very happy - missing out on the Olympic team last year, it was something that I really wanted to be a part of as all these swimmers are my idols and now I get to be on a team so I’m very happy.
“I’ve been training harder than I ever have so I’m glad it has paid off.”
Toohey originally took up swimming to become a water polo player but realised she wanted to commit to it full-time after supporting her brother at state events.
Now coached by Wayne Gould, Toohey has cemented herself as one of Australia’s most exciting young prospects.
She credited the work she had done at Albury, as well as a tough national meet camp with renowned breaststroke coach Mel Marshall for her quick improvement.
“That week still stands as the hardest week of training I’ve ever done, with Mel, just being in the room with all of those swimmers was surreal…they’re real to me now,” Toohey said.
“I just want to reach the very top - medals at Olympics and personal bests in everything.
“We’ll have to push up the timeline a bit more now, but it would mean a lot to be part of the Brisbane Olympics with my family there to see me.”
Ella Ramsay, who has seen significant improvements of her own under Mel Marshall at Griffith University and also qualified for the World Championships, was thrilled for Toohey.
“Just to see the pure emotion and relief Sienna had after the race I definitely related to that because I had that this time last year with making my first Olympic team,” she said.
“To see the same pure emotion on Sienna’s face means the world to me.
“It’s great for Australian breaststroke, there’s depth coming through but there’s not a lot up the top so to see Sienna step up to that level at such a young age means a lot.”
‘DISSATISFIED’ MCKEOWN CLAIMS TITLES
Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown put a tumultuous Monday behind her to take out the Australian Swimming Trials 100m backstroke final but remains dissatisfied with her performances despite an impressive time.
The 23-year-old clocked a 57.71 time, just 0.58 seconds slower than the current world record, to finish first in Adelaide and qualify for the World Championships in Singapore.
The performance came a day after McKeown protested a disqualification from her 50m backstroke heat after officials deemed she initiated a start before the signal.
Her protest was eventually upheld after officials ruled in her favour that she was distracted by a movement immediately prior to the signal.
“Yesterday was yesterday, today is today, you can’t really dwell on the past - that’s the sport,” McKeown said
“Sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some, I’ve just got to do my job and make the team.
“I’m not satisfied with the time.
“I want to swim fast, there’s not much more I can explain on that - you just want to go out hard and come back hard, put a good time on the board but it just wasn’t there tonight.”
McKeown’s race followed the performance of Albury teenager Sienna Toohey, who blitzed the 100m women’s breaststroke to qualify for her first senior team.
The 16-year-old recorded a time of 1:06.55, the eighth fastest ever by an Australian in that event.
McKeown was full of praise for Toohey.
“I think she has done a great job so far, so whatever she is doing, keep doing it.
“If I give any advice to any young swimmers out there, it’s to just enjoy yourself.
“I was also 16 when I made my first team and it really taught me a lot being with the older guys so I’m excited to see young swimmers (like Toohey) coming through the ranks - the more experience they get heading into LA, the better chance we have of doing Australia proud.”
0.01! LEARY JUST MISSES WORLD RECORD
Rising star Paralympic swimmer Alexa Leary fell just 0.01 seconds short of her own women’s multi class 50m freestyle world record as she comfortably won Tuesday’s final at the national swimming trials.
The 23-year-old, who has already set four world records since the Paralympics, exploded to a 27.24 second time to book a spot in the World Championships in Singapore.
“It’s amazing, I’m loving every moment of it,” Leary said of her recent success.
“I was trying to calm it down out there, I had to make sure I got everything right for the coach (Jon Bell).
“The big show is Singapore, I’ve got to say.”
RISING AUSSIE FREESTYLER ACCEPTS CHALLENGE OF US SPEEDSTER
Australian Olympic swimmer Max Giuliani has accepted the challenge thrown down by USA speedster Luke Hobson in the 200m freestyle last week.
The 21-year-old, who finished seventh in Paris’ final for the event last year, said he was impressed by Hobson’s time of 1:43.73 at the US National Trials, over a second faster than Giuliani’s personal best of 1:44.79.
Hobson became the first American to break the 1:44 mark since Olympic legend Michael Phelps and currently ranks number one in the world with the effort.
“It was absolutely a very tidy time and I think Luke is an amazing athlete,” Giuliani said.
“The way he’s swimming it now is a lot different to how he was swimming it this time last year.
“I think it’s great for the sport and I’m excited to go toe-to-toe with him.
“It’s a huge motivation for us – everyone is aiming for that sub-1:44 swim and now someone has done it so I think the floodgates have opened and we should see a few more.”
Now competing in this year’s Australian Swimming Trials in Adelaide ahead of the World Championships in Singapore next month, Giuliani is hoping to build significantly from his experience in Paris.
He said he took a long break to recover from the Olympics and now feels ready to attack 2025 with his best.
“I had a big break of about a month, which was enormous for me, it was probably the longest I’ve been out of the pool.
“I went back home to Tasmania which was amazing, just seeing everyone there and being able to reset.
“It just fuelled me, being at the Olympics and being around those guys who are winning and are the best at what they do was really inspiring.
“I want to do everything I can to be one of those people come LA (2028).”
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