The Heart of a Swimmer: Mia Geise
June 20, 2025
Off the back of her selection in the Queensland team, set to compete at the Australian Schools Swimming Championship in Brisbane in July, Year 8 student Mia Geise talks about her record breaking journey in the face of adversity.
How did you get into swimming, and have you always swum competitively?
When I was two years old my older brother Henry was taking learn to swim lessons at Fairholme, and I used to go along with my parents and was wanting to join in. It is funny to think back, that as a two-year-old I started learn to swim lessons with Mrs Dickinson and she used to tell the instructors to, ‘watch out for Mia as she will jump in the pool when you’re not looking’. I had no fear and just wanted to get on with it.
All the instructors and swim coaches were aware that I had received a liver transplant when I was not even 4 months old. They were very supportive of me, and I went through the learn to swim grades. I commenced swimming competitively at meets when I was about 7 years old and swam for the Junior School at Andrews Cup.
In Year 4 my health took a turn, and the doctors told my parents that I needed another transplant. The family moved to Brisbane to prepare. As I got sicker, I had to give up my favourite activities, including swimming which was really hard. I had a second transplant in Year 5, and six weeks after that, I was feeling healthy again, back at swim squad, but not competing. I returned to Fairholme at the beginning of Year 7 where my THRIVE teacher Mrs Aleesa Barton mentioned to me that I might be eligible to compete in multi class sport events.
When I talked to Dad, he thought it was a great opportunity for me and got me registered to compete in multi class swimming and athletics. I was swimming in Fitness Squad at the time and with the encouragement of the Development Coach Mr Michael (Mick) Winton I returned to swim squad under his guidance.
That was about nine months ago, and in November 2024, I resumed swimming competitively after more than a three year break.
My goals at my first meet was to set new times to simply enable me to swim in multi class events at the Queensland Swimming Championships in December last year. The unexpected happened... I not only set some new times which allowed me to swim at the Queensland Championships, but I set National qualifying times.
This was the start of what has been an extraordinary past six months where I have achieved more than I ever thought was possible.
What does your weekly training schedule look like?
I currently swim up to three times a week with the Development Squad under the guidance of my coach, Mr Mick Winton, and I also participate in two lighter sessions with the Fitness Squad. In addition to swimming, I incorporate a gym session at school to focus on strengthening. During the cross country and track and field seasons, I adjust my training by reducing the number of swim sessions and replacing them with two running sessions to maintain my conditioning.
What do you love about swimming?
It isn’t all about training and competition. I have made lovely friendships with my squad members and the young women I compete against.
Do you have a favourite stroke?
Breaststroke is by far my best stroke and is definitely my favourite. I enjoy the feeling when going through (almost cutting) the water when I am swimming breaststroke.
You are off to Nationals in July, do you have any goals for this meet?
I am selected for multi-class 50m and 100m Breaststroke and 200m Mixed Medley Relay Team A (Breaststroke). Even though I am at the younger end of the 13-15 age group if I swim personal best times, I will be competitive in my individual events. My goal is for personal bests and top 6 finishes, anything better than that will be a bonus.
In the Mixed Medley, we have a real chance of a top 2 finish. It is going to be an exciting 3 days for Coach Mick and me; I am looking forward to it!
Do you have any long-term sporting goals?
My dad says that slow and steady wins the race when it comes to long-term progression in sport and to not get ahead of myself. We take every training block and swim meet as stepping stones to continue with setting personal best times that will in the future hopefully make me the best junior multi-class breaststroker in Australia. If I achieve this, it has potential to open pathways to gain selection in junior teams to compete internationally.
Is there anyone particular who inspires you?
Alexa Leary – A multi-class swimmer and Paralympics gold medallist, and world record holder. Four years ago, while training for triathlon Alexa had a horrible crash on her bike that left her with brain damage and weakness down her right side. Alexa’s courage and determination to learn to speak and walk again and go on to swim for Australia at a Paralympics is extraordinary. It gives me the chills.
MEDALS
Australian Age and Multi Class Age Championships
Bronze: 12–13 Years 50m Breaststroke
Queensland Representative Schools Championships
Bronze: 13–15 Years 50m Breaststroke
Bronze: 13–15 Years 100m Breaststroke
Queensland Championships
Silver: Open 100m Breaststroke
Bronze: Open 50m Breaststroke
Silver: 12–14 Years 50m and 100m Breaststroke
Silver: 12–14 Years 50m and 100m Backstroke
Queensland Sprint Championships
Silver: 12–14 Years 50m Breaststroke
RECORDS
Australian Records Long Course:
- Open: 50m, 100m, and 200m Breaststroke (three records)
- 13 Years and Under: 50m, 100m, and 200m Breaststroke (three records)
Short Course:
- Open: 100m Breaststroke and 100m Medley (two records)
- 13 Years and Under: 50m and 100m Backstroke, 50m and 100m Breaststroke, 100m Medley (five records)
Queensland Records Long Course:
- Open: 50m, 100m, and 200m Breaststroke; 50m and 100m Backstroke (five records)
- 13 Years: 50m and 100m Freestyle, 50m and 100m Breaststroke, 50m & 100m Backstroke (six records)
- 12 Years: 50m and 100m Freestyle, 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke, 50m and 100m Backstroke (seven records)
(Note: No Queensland Short
Course records are maintained for Multi Class)
More News…
This year’s Queensland Debating Union (QDU) Toowoomba Secondary Schools Competition saw Fairholme teams deliver an outstanding season of debating, showcasing sharp thinking, quick wit, and true Fairholme spirit. ‘We have such a wonderful culture of debating at Fairholme, with a great number of students keen to participate every year. The growth I observe in our debaters is extraordinary, from their confidence in speaking, to their exceptional teamwork and critical reasoning when preparing arguments on a wide range of contemporary issues’, says our Debating Co-ordinator, Mrs Kim Scudamore. A special congratulations goes to our Year 7.4 team, who claimed the Grand Final victory against Toowoomba Grammar School. They successfully argued the affirmative on the topic: ‘That we should actively encourage the use of Artificial Intelligence in classrooms.’ Their ability to build persuasive cases and respond confidently to rebuttals was a testament to their hard work and teamwork throughout the season. Our Year 8, Year 10 and Senior teams also impressed, each reaching their respective Grand Finals and finishing as runners-up after tightly contested debates. Their efforts reflected not only strong debating skills but also resilience and camaraderie in high-pressure settings. In total, 16 Fairholme teams competed this season, with 12 teams making it through to the finals. Congratulations to every debater who took part in this year’s competition. The future of debating at Fairholme is certainly in good hands. Fairholme Grand Final Debaters: Team 7.4 - Sophie Cussons, Suzana Yusaf, Abigail Walker, Norah Joseph and Bella Cherry Team 8.2 - Tanishka Chaudhary, Annabelle King, Claire Fischer and Elaine Mutsando Team 10.1 - Sophie Haller, Richa Vimal, Brooke Johnson, Caitlin Schultheiss, Isabella Kentish and Georgia Nicholls Team 12.1 - Ayesha Saleh, Rori Zimmerman, Chanudi Dissanayake and Mabel Galbraith
Year 8 student Ella Phillips has returned holme after an unforgettable tour of the United States, where she proudly represented Australia in the Babe Ruth Softball World Series as part of the Aussie Drop Bears team. Ella’s journey began in Dallas, Texas, before heading to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she participated in a high-level training camp with local college softball coaches. The team also competed in warm-up matches to prepare for the main event in Florence, Alabama. Competing in the Under 14 division, Ella and her Australian team made it all the way to the double elimination final, narrowly missing out on the championship title by just one run in a nail-biting 8 - 9 loss. Despite the result, their second-place finish is a highlight achievement for Ella. Ella’s individual performance was nothing short of outstanding. During the closing ceremony, she was named in the Under 14 All World Series Team and the Under 14 All Defensive Team, a testament to her talent and consistency on the field. She also ranked in the top 10 for both batting and fielding statistics across the entire tournament. Reflecting on her journey, Ella shared that her softball career began humbly at home in Taroom encouraged by her mum and PE teachers to trial for the South West state team. That experience sparked a passion for the sport and she now plays for Dodgers Softball Club in Toowoomba. ‘I’ve been really lucky with the support I’ve had,’ Ella said. ‘The stats don’t say everything, but they’re the best I’ve ever had. I’m really proud of how I played in America.’ Boarding since Year 7, Ella has ambitions to study veterinary science but also has her sights set on a softball career. With aspirations to play in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, Ella is already planning her next steps, including a trip to Japan in 2026 to further develop her skills.
Preparing the next generation of athletes for success both on and off the field. Fairholme is proud to be part of an exciting new partnership with the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), through their 2032 Brisbane Olympics Student-Athlete Empowerment Project. This forward-thinking initiative aims to educate and support student athletes across all areas of sport, health, and performance. As part of this project, our High Performance Sport athletes and Sport Physiology students are taking part in ‘Girls 2 Win’, a specialised program dedicated to the education and empowerment of young female athletes. Led by UniSQ experts in female health and performance, Girls 2 Win focuses on the unique aspects of female physiology and how these can influence wellbeing and sporting success. Students are gaining vital knowledge about the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception and the ways in which physiology can impact athletic performance. Fairholme’s Head of High Performance, Miss Casey Reynoldson, said the benefits of the program reach far beyond the sporting field. ‘By equipping our Middle and Senior School athletes with tailored strategies and practical tools, the program ensures they are empowered to make informed choices - supporting their health, confidence, and performance in every arena.’ With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, initiatives like Girls 2 Win play a key role in shaping and inspiring athletes of tomorrow. In addition, our Sport Physiology students are also involved in the UniSQ’s ‘Mind 2 Win’ program. This program explores the crucial role of the mind in health, wellbeing and performance. Through interactive workshops and practical exercises, students are developing key psychological skills such as focus, resilience, self-awareness, and mindset strategies. These tools will help them manage stress, build confidence and perform under pressure, while also supporting their mental health and long-term success. ‘At Fairholme, we are delighted to provide our students with access to world-class education and research in partnership with UniSQ - helping our young athletes take bold steps towards their sporting goals, and perhaps even towards the Olympic stage in 2032.’
