“Aussie Rookies Impress Bronte Campbell at World Championship Trials”

ADELAIDE: This week, Bronte Campbell has been experiencing an exhilarating glimpse of the future from the poolside, leaving the veteran Australian swimmer buzzing with excitement.

During the opening two days of the Australian trials, three promising young athletes secured their places on the senior Dolphins team for the first time, earning a spot to represent Australia at the world championships in Singapore.

On Tuesday evening at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre, 16-year-old Sienna Toohey made her debut on the senior Dolphins team in the breaststroke events.

The Albury local has made headlines over the past year by breaking two junior national records previously held by the iconic breaststroker Leisel Jones.

Additionally, 20-year-old Jesse Coleman, a star in the butterfly category, has booked his ticket to Singapore, alongside 22-year-old freestyle swimmer Charlie Hawke.

Tune in to watch the 2025 Australian swimming trials live and free on Nine and 9Now from June 9-14.

“It’s so thrilling to witness new faces making the team,” Campbell, who is currently taking a sabbatical from competitive swimming, remarked to Wide World of Sports.

“There’s always a sense of pure joy. For most, this is the pinnacle achievement—making the senior Dolphins team. Seeing their delight as first-time members of the long-course team is truly refreshing and heartwarming.

“I’ve always appreciated the influx of new talent; they inject a vibrant energy and excitement, which bodes well for the future, especially since many of these newcomers are quite young, suggesting they have a bright future in the sport ahead of them.”

As Toohey, Coleman, and Hawke give it their all at the Singapore world titles, viewers can catch their performances live on Nine.

Nine has announced that they will provide exclusive coverage of Wednesday night’s events.

This week, Toohey has qualified for both the women’s 100m and 50m breaststroke, with the possibility of adding the 200m breaststroke to her Singapore itinerary.

Coleman has secured a spot in the men’s 100m butterfly, while Hawke will compete in Singapore as part of the men’s 200m freestyle relay team.

The Australian team features several other young talents who have already made their mark on the senior international stage, including Edward Sommerville, Max Giuliani, Olivia Wunsch, Milla Jansen, and Lily Price.

With the retirements of stars like Emma McKeon, Cate Campbell, Emily Seebohm, and Brianna Throssell following the last year’s Olympics in Paris, a new wave of promising athletes is emerging.

Having been part of the successful Australian women’s 4x100m freestyle relay teams that clinched gold in both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, Bronte Campbell understands the value of a long-term perspective in swimming.

“I’m not particularly fond of giving advice, but with age comes understanding. It can sometimes feel like one competition defines your entire career, but as you mature, you realise that’s not the case,” she shared.

“It’s essential to view every event as an opportunity for learning and growth rather than as the apex of your career. I wish I had embraced that perspective more in the early days of my journey.

“Starting out on the senior international stage can be quite overwhelming, but I’m confident that Toohey and the other rookies will enjoy the experience and learn immensely in Singapore. It’s vital to take away that little taste of success to keep the motivation alive.”

Throughout the trials, Bronte and her sister Cate are producing a daily show titled Campbells’ Condensed for Swimming Australia’s social media.

“If the results come through in your first year, that’s fantastic,” Bronte concluded.

“Whether they occur in your second, third, or even fourth year, that’s equally impressive.

“One competition doesn’t have to dictate your entire career, even though it may feel that way during your initial experiences,” she added with a chuckle.

The Singapore world championships are scheduled for July 28 to August 3.