Sienna Deurloo caps memorable nationals with bronze medal

Sienna Deurloo earns a podium finish at the nationals, while Isaac Cooper adds another record to his list.

SWIMMING: It’s scary to think that Sienna Deurloo’s best in the pool is yet to come.

The 15-year-old qualified for seven events at the Australian Age Championships at the Gold Coast earlier this month.

Her peak result came over the distance journey of 1500m, recording a personal best by six seconds on her way to a bronze medal.

“It felt really good and it was exciting,” Deurloo said.

“I wasn’t quite expecting a result like that, but I knew the hard work from training would pay off.”

Long distance sets and training at both morning and afternoon sessions helped the St Joseph’s College swimmer on her way to success.

As well as her bronze medal, Deurloo made the final of the 400m freestyle where she finished sixth, as well as fourth in the 800m freestyle timed trial.

It’s a promising campaign like this which has the progressive talent aiming high for her future.

“I’ve been competing since I was nine and with Toowoomba Grammar for three years now,” she said.
“I plan to keep swimming after school and see where the results can take me. A future goal is to try and head towards the open nationals.”

RECORD FALLS

Isaac Cooper also had a nationals to remember, adding a new record to his name.

The former Grammar swimmer finished with a time of 54.56 in the 17 years backstroke event, smashing the previous Australian age record by 0.31 seconds.