Sienna and Tamsyn Walo, Macey Sheridan star at World Championship Trials in Melbourne

A trio of Top End swimmers has brought the standard of the sport ‘back to some of the old roots’ when Territorians were winning medals on the national stage.

The pedigree of swimming talent in the Northern Territory is showing signs of returning to the to top levels of the past following the achievements of three rising stars in Melbourne last week.

Twin sisters Sienna and Tamsyn Walo, alongside youngster Macey Sheridan, flew to Victoria to compete for a place in the Australian team for the World Aquatics 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

The Territory trio performed strongly as they joined more than 600 swimmers at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in competing for high honours.

Sheridan 13, was the youngest competitor at the event and swam in five events.

Her best finish was 17th in the 50m backstroke while she also came 20th in the 100m backstroke.

Sheridan also dived into the pool for the 200m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle.

Darwin Swimming Club head coach Tim Few, who went on the interstate trip, said Sheridan “put down a handful of top performances for a 13-year-old.”

Macey Sheridan in the pool at the World Championship Trials in Melbourne. Picture: Supplied.

Sienna Walo, 19, had the best finish with an 11th place in the 100m breaststroke and also competed in the 50m breaststroke and 100m freestyle.

Tamsyn Walo, also 19, swam the longest distance with a 200m breaststroke event.

“It’s a massive millstone, all three of them enjoyed the event,” Few said.

“For them it was more about just going and experiencing the hype of the event and the pressure that a selection meet like that brings.

“Overall, it was the first time I have had swimmers on that kind of a level.

“I think the last time we had a national medallist was back in 2016; we had a bronze medallist, Flynn White, in the 400m freestyle.

“And then we are going back to I think it’s 2008 where we had Kia King win a gold medal in 200m breaststroke at an age national.

Twin sisters Sienna and Tamsyn Walo alongside youngster Macey Sheridan (middle) at the World Championship Trials in Melbourne. Picture: Supplied.

“The way the squad and in particular these three girls are performing now, it’s back to some of the old roots and some of the old performances the Territory used to have back in the day.

“So it is just trying to get the name out, get them recognised, in particular the two older ones who will be looking to take the next step in their journey.

“We will be looking at the Olympic trials next year, of course, and then it will almost be what's their next step to progress to that next level and make an Australian team.”

The Walo sisters are set for the short course championship in October.

And as part of the Darwin Swimming Club team, the trio have the country championships in September-October in Darwin.

Then a team will be sent to Brisbane in December for the state championships.