New South Wales notes today that its "athletes and coaches will feature strongly on the world stage this August, with a record 10 swimmers and two coaches selected on the Australian Junior Dolphins team for the 2025 World Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania".

That's NSW’s strongest representation on a Junior Dolphins team in recent years and, says NSW Swimming, reflects "the positive momentum across the state's performance pathways", adding:

"This year 10 NSW athletes have been selected to a 30-strong team, making up a third of the national squad, an uplift from 2024 and 2023, where NSW contributed 7 athletes from a team of 40 and 8 athletes from a team of 30 respectively."
 
The NSW athletes named are:

• Ollie Moclair (Cranbrook, coached by Tom Sunter)
• Heli Childs (PLC Sydney, coached by Brent Winkworth)
• Jessica Cole (Wests Illawarra, coached by Patrick Stellino)
• Rafaela Kopellou (SOPAC, coached by Adam Kable)
• Kira Long (SOPAC, coached by James Greathead)
• Asha Ring (SOPAC, coached by James Greathead)
• Heidi Shumack (SOPAC, coached by James Greathead)
• Sienna Toohey (Albury, coached by Wayne Gould)
• Ben Cotroneo (Kincoppal-Rose Bay, coached by Hamid Mobarraz)
• Christopher Montana (Trinity Grammar, coached by Ben Tuxford)

NSW Coaches James Greathead (SOPAC) and Wayne Gould (Albury) were also selected for the Junior Dolphins team, underlining the strength of coaching in NSW.

NSW talent will be led by 16-year-old breaststroke sensation Sienna Toohey, who produced head-turning performances at the recent Australian Age Championships. Toohey won four gold medals and broke two national age records, including legendary Dolphin Leisel Jones’ 23-year-old 100m breaststroke record with a blistering 1:07.04. She also set a new national mark in the 50m breaststroke (30.73), confirming her place as one of Australia's brightest emerging stars. 

SOPAC Performance Centre Head Coach James Greathead said:

"It’s incredibly rewarding to see so many SOPAC athletes earn their place on the Junior Dolphins team. Their selection is a testament to the hard work they’ve put in every day and the strength of the environment we’ve built at SOPAC. I’m excited to support them as they take this next step onto the international stage and showcase the talent we’re developing here in NSW."

Adding to the next generation of talent, Christopher Montana (Trinity Grammar) and Heidi Shumack (SOPAC) will be among the youngest team members in Romania at just 15 years old, showcasing the depth of emerging athletes coming through NSW programs.
 
NSW Coaching Director Jon Shaw said:

"This selection reflects the outstanding commitment from our athletes, the skill and dedication of our coaches, and the strength of the development pathways we've been investing in across New South Wales. To have a third of the national team coming from NSW this year is a remarkable achievement. It shows that our progression plans are working, and we can’t wait to see these young athletes take on the world stage with pride and confidence."

The 2025 World Junior Championships will take place in Otopeni, Romania, from 19–24 August.

The Australia Team In Full:

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Tim Ford's plaudit for Carlile coach Chris Nesbit after the club topped the points score at Australian Age Championships this month:

"In an age when many coaches gravitate to the high-performance hub system, Chris is one of the few coaches in this country with the experience, talent, dedication and tenacity to oversee a large club system of swimmers and coaches. He is, without doubt, one of the world’s most competent coaches, and his ability to develop, grow and motivate our coaching team is truly special."