The future of Australian swimming has arrived – and they’re only 17

Two future stars of Australian swimming and potential medallists at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics announced themselves in barnstorming fashion on Tuesday night, with 17-year-olds Sienna Toohey and Henry Allan showing why the hype surrounding two country teenagers who grew up three hours apart is very real.

On night two of the Australian swimming trials for next month’s Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Championships later this year in California, Toohey and Allan took out their respective women’s 100m breaststroke and men’s 100m backstroke finals at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

The pair were not alive to witness the magic of the Sydney 2000 Olympics in the same pool they raced in on Tuesday night – most of their teammates weren’t either – but they have only heightened excitement within swimming circles about their raw potential ahead of a home Olympics in six years.

Toohey’s open-mouthed reaction was priceless when she looked up at the board and realised she had slashed 0.46 seconds off her personal best to clock 1:05.97 and become the third-fastest Australian in history (all ages) behind Leisel Jones (1:05.09) and Sarah Katsoulis (1:05.86).

A greater focus on her turns recently has helped propel her towards times that are edging into medal territory at senior international level.

“I’m really happy with that,” Toohey said. “My legs were burning but I wasn’t going to give up.”

Allan, meanwhile, faces a nervous wait until Saturday before officially learning whether he has earned selection in his first Dolphins team. His time of 53.52 was outside Swimming Australia’s demanding qualifying standard of 52.57, but selectors are expected to take him to Glasgow at the very least as part of the men’s 4x100m medley relay squad.

The other option is Isaac Cooper, who took out the 50m backstroke but didn’t race the 100m event. However, Allan is a long-term prospect with an enormously bright future and the international experience will do him the world of good.

Young athletes from major cities can sometimes attract attention more quickly, but there have been whispers about both swimmers among astute judges for some time, given their country upbringings and commitment to driving long distances in pursuit of one day wearing a gold cap at an Olympic Games.

Toohey made her international debut as a 16-year-old at last year’s world championships in Singapore. At the preceding trials, she revealed her hometown of Albury on the NSW-Victoria border did not have an indoor swimming pool, forcing her to train outdoors, often in freezing conditions during the