NSWIS Swimmers Dominate with Podium Finishes at State Open Championships

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Swim Head Coach Adam Kable said the results from last weekend’s State Open Championships at ‘home-pool’ Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, indicate the Institute’s athletes are in a good place ahead of the National Opens in four weeks. 

“[The State Open Championships are] a very important competition in the calendar,” Kable explained.

“The results are absolute; not necessarily definitive of how they’re going to go at the trials [in June in Adelaide, where they’ll compete for a spot at the World Championships in Singapore], but it gives us a nice point to assess where they are from a training perspective.”

Held across three days, there were several podium finishes by NSWIS athletes, including a gold for Tayla Martin – who was recently selected in Australia’s 2025 World Championship Open Water Team – in the 1500m freestyle and silver in the 800m. 

Bella Grant secured silver in the 100m backstroke, finishing behind Olympian Kaylee McKeown. Jaimie De Lutiis took bronze for the 100m freestyle. 

Sienna Toohey dominated the breaststroke events, winning gold in the 50m breaststroke, and securing two silvers in the100m and 200m. 

In the men’s events, Will Yang won gold for 100m freestyle and silver in the 50m, Matthew Galea silver in the 400m, and Luke Higgs bronze in the 800m. 

“Will was very happy,” Kable said. “I think Will knows that it’s been a slow start post-Olympics, but the results were reflective of where he’s at. He’s made some great gains.” 

Brad Woodward earned bronze in the 50m backstroke, Se-Bom Lee gold in the 400m individual medley and silver in the 200m, and Stu Swinburn silver in the 200m backstroke.  

Kable partly credits the NSWIS podium victories to the home-pool advantage, with the event taking place just a stone’s throw away from NSWIS HQ. 

“Everybody’s very comfortable in the space. It demonstrates we’re on track for a very good trials as a whole institute,” he said. 

In the multi-class events, Tim Hodge shone with four golds – one in the 400m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m Individual medley, and 100m breaststroke. He also claimed silver in the 100m backstroke. 

Declan Budd secured silver in the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly, and bronze in 100m backstroke. Darren Sisman followed closely, taking bronze in the 200m freestyle and silver in the 400m freestyle. 

Alex Tuckfield claimed bronze in the 50m freestyle, and silver in the 100m. 

Hannah Price earned silver for 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley, along with bronze in 100m backstroke. Chloe Osborn took bronze for the 400m freestyle, and silver for 100m freestyle.  

Kable explained that, as the first or second meet for most athletes, the championships provide valuable data for refining training strategies moving forward. 

“We have a performance team meeting planned where we’ll go through the results with our biomechanics, physiologists, and strength coaches, to then look at how we’re going to [refine] the program as a result,” he said. 

“In about four weeks’ time we have National Opens, so that’ll be another step up again. We talk about levels within the season, so that’ll be the next step up in our preparation into trials.” 

Before Nationals, the squad will head to Japan for a three-week training camp. 

Story, Photos, and Video: Rachel Tingey, NSWIS