Sienna Newton

Teenager Sienna Newton will make her debut in the green and gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games when she lines up in the T38 long jump. Managing a challenging childhood, as she battled brain cancer, Sienna is a young actress and in 2026 commenced studying for a Diploma in Stage and Screen Performance at NIDA.

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Sienna Newton started her journey in athletics when she was very you, aged about 3 or 4 years in Little Athletics Tiny Tots.

“At the time, I was more interested in building sandcastles in the long jump pit and collecting Ring Pops from the canteen than competing, but I quickly developed a passion for the sport.”

At the age of eight (in 2015) she won her 2km cross country at the Diocesan Championships (a regional qualification event for Catholic school students) but she would not be able to compete at the next level – State, as shortly after the Diocesan Championships she was diagnosed with brain cancer. She was facing uncertainty as only 2 out of 10 children diagnosed with brain cancer survive beyond five years. “The period of treatment was incredibly difficult not only for me but for my entire family, but in many ways the ongoing journey since then has been the harder part. This includes regular MRIs, countless appointments, and the uncertainty that comes with them, all of which I’ve had to learn to live with.”

Less than 12 months after her surgery, she returned to the Diocesan Championships and won the event again. “It was a bittersweet moment, as my family and I never expected I would be able to return to competition so quickly. Standing on the start line again was

something we were incredibly grateful for.”

Sienna continued to compete in able-bodied athletics, even winning the NSW Under 13 Combined Events title.

“During that time, T38 Paralympian Evan O’Hanlon suggested I might be eligible for para-athletics classification due to left-sided weakness caused by my brain tumour surgery, although I didn’t think much of it at the time.”

In 2025, she returned to long jump to compete at her final school carnival. Her physiotherapy testing revealed the extent of her left-sided weakness, and potential para classification. Within months, she progressed from provisional to national and international classification as a T38 athlete. Her event was on the program for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and soon her performances put her in the mix for selection, which was confirmed in May 2026 with her selection on the team. In late 2025 she was jumping around 4.20m, but by the end of summer she had progressed to 4.62m, with a couple of 4.59m leaps.

Her initial return to long jump in later 2025, while she was living in the Hunter Valley area, was with her former coach, David Summerville. But in early 2026 she relocated to Sydney to study at her dream school, NIDA. She also then joined Andrew Murphy’s squad.

“The transition had its challenges, particularly moving away from home and learning to live independently, but it has also been very rewarding. I am grateful for the support of my parents, family, and coaches, who have helped make the journey possible.”

Occupation: actress and athlete…Education: Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance, National Institute of the Dramatic

Arts (NIDA), Sydney (2026- )…Other sports: skateboarding, can drop in on a 10-foot vertical ramp…Hometown: Wallalong, a small rural town on the border of Port Stephens Council in the Hunter Valley…Advice to your young self: Trust the process and remember that everything happens for a reason. I’d also tell myself not to worry so much about the future, but to live in the present and take each moment as it comes. To be honest, my current self could probably take the same advice. If my younger self were here right now, she’d probably remind me I’m not very good at following it…Hobbies: Acting. I have starred in numerous musicals and plays, appeared in a commercial, and done voiceovers for radio and television. One of my biggest highlights was being selected in 2024 to represent Australia as part of the Aussie and Kiwi Team for Musical Theatre, competing in Atlanta, Georgia. More recently, I starred opposite Leeanna Walsman in the short film Shove It, filmed in late 2025. Acting is something I hope to continue pursuing alongside my sporting career…Interesting fact: Aged 14 made the Stawell Gift Under 18s 100m final. I grew up living in Wallalong – just 400 metres from a local dairy farm and spent much of my childhood doing training sessions on the 170-metre hill beside it. It was the perfect training ground, and I got to do my reps while making friends with the local cows…Famous relatives: Cousin of Mitch Allan, represented Australia at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin in men’s snowboarding halfpipe. Mother Kylie Newton (nee Watkins) competed at 1994 World Juniors…Influential people in career: Trevor Height and Col Muir. Trevor Height, my sister Ebony’s long-time coach and someone who also coached me when I was younger, has been a strong support for both me and my family. Col Muir, an official with NSW and Australian Athletics. He has been part of my journey since I was eight years old, when I first met him at Ronald McDonald House at Westmead Children’s Hospital during one of the hardest times in my life. I have continued to see him regularly at athletics events over the years, often officiating at the long jump, and it was significant to have him present again when I represented Australia at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin…Idol: in athletics, my idol is Jessica Hull. Her family used to live up the road from my Nan and Pop in Albion Park…Biggest challenge you’ve faced: The biggest challenge I’ve faced would have to be my brain cancer diagnosis. Another challenge has been dealing with survivor’s guilt. Only 2 out of 10 children diagnosed with brain cancer survive beyond five years, a statistic that has stayed with me since I was eight years old. Losing friends I met during treatment is something that has remained very difficult. At the same time, these experiences have given me a greater appreciation for life and the opportunities I’ve been given. They’ve shaped who I am today and continue to motivate me to make the most of every opportunity, both on and o􀆯 the track.

@ 2 July 2026 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au