Superfish Sienna Toohey off to Commonwealth Games

Albury High's Sienna Toohey broke a PB to earn a Commonwealth Games spot backed every stroke by her school and dad. Glenn Cullen reports.

A girl swimmer standing next to a middle aged man next to an Olympic swimming pool and banner A girl swimmer standing next to a middle aged man next to an Olympic swimming pool and banner
Image: Albury High School's Sienna Toohey and proud dad Damian at the NSWCHSSA swim meet in Olympic Park. ... on her way to next month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Albury High School swim sensation, Sienna Toohey, has punched her ticket to next month's Commonwealth Games, breaking her personal best in the 100 metres breaststroke at the Australian swimming trials.

Sienna slashed 0.46 seconds off her previous marker, clocking 1 minute and 5.97 seconds at Sydney's Olympic Park to become the third fastest Australian in history in the event.

Watched by nervous dad Damian, who is also the principal at Albury High School on Wiradjuri land, Sienna motored home to take out the event to ensure she'll feature not only in Glasgow but the Pan Pacific Championships later in the year in California.

The incredible rise continues for the Year 11 student, who famously just missed out on the Olympics when only in Year 9, while last year making her first senior world championship team.

Sienna told reporters poolside that her school and friends give her incredible support, inspiring her to continue to achieve.

"My friends at school are the most beautiful group of friends I could have ever asked for,” she said. “They often FaceTime me in the day … I know that I can leave for months on end and come back and they'll treat me the exact same. It's definitely hard being isolated.

"My teachers are very supportive of my sport. They do little booklets and packets for me and send them up with my dad when he comes to visit me. I'm doing school the same as everybody else, I'm just doing it from home."

During April's NSW CHSSA swimming championships in Sydney, Sienna and her dad also spoke about how the school helps her manage dyslexia.

"We are very, very lucky," Mr Toohey said.

"When you are swimming early in the morning, then going to school later in the day and you have dyslexia it's pretty hard work to maintain that level of concentration for that amount of time.

"Our staff have worked really well to integrate her into the school; ensure she gets her assignments done and follows through with what she needs to do each day."

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