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10 NSWIS swimmers bound for Singapore

Sixteen-year-old New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete, Sienna Toohey, a rookie on the 40-strong Dolphins team that will compete at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, won over the nation with the wholesomeness of her answer after being asked what it meant for a girl from Albury to make the Australian team.

“It means a lot, not just for me but my whole family,” Toohey told Channel Nine’s Cate Campbell.

“They gave up so much for me to be able to do this, they give up time from work to take me to Canberra, my brothers give up a lot of opportunities so that I can be standing here wearing this [Dolphins polo] shirt and being here with this team is amazing.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet [that I’ll represent Australia] but I’m sure it will later this week.

“[My idol] when I was younger was my big brother. He was the reason I started swimming because I always wanted to do what he was doing. But definitely, as I got older . . . two years ago I was watching some of these swimmers saying, ‘I want to be like them.’ So getting on the team is absolutely amazing.”

Olivia Wunsch, who was presented with an Olympic gold medal for her efforts as a heat swimmer for Australia’s 4 x 100m relay team at last year’s Paris Games, swam with plenty of courage – and grit – to qualify for the world championships team after she recovered from a bout of glandular fever.

“I’ve always loved swimming, I love racing, so that’s why I train,” said the 19-year-old. “So, I’m really excited to be back on deck.

“We really didn’t know where I was going to be coming off glandular [fever] so, just really excited to be back with a lot more to work on.

“I think it’s more satisfying to touch second. I mean the time is nice, but I know there’s a lot more to work on and a lot more I can do. A little bit of fine tuning into’ ‘Worlds’ and I’m really excited to be on the team off the back of the Olympics.”

A total of 10 NSWIS scholarship athletes were selected to compete for Australia, with Paris Paralympian Tim Hodge, who has won two Paralympic golds and three gold world championships medals; Chloe Osborn, a silver Paralympics medallist; Alex Tuckfield a Paralympics bronze medallist; Jasmine Greenwood a Paralympic silver medallist who also boast five world championships medals,; Abbey Webb sensationally smashed her PB to secure her ticket, and 17-year-old rookie bolter, Declan Budd all named on the 25-strong team to compete at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore from 21-27 September at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.

NSWIS offers its congratulations to Institute coach Misha Payne as well as NSWIS hub coaches, Gavin Stewart and Yuriy Vdovychenko for their selections on that team.

Toohey and Wunsch will be joined in the 40-strong a Dolphins pool team to compete at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore from July 27-August 3 by Brad Woodward and open water swimmer, Tayla Martin.

Congratulations, Declan Budd