Mia Gross, a 23-year-old sprinter from Torquay, is one of Australia’s most exciting athletic talents. Her journey to the Olympics showcases her determination, resilience, and the support of her family and local community.
Mia has shown exceptional talent and dedication from a young age, setting records and earning an athletics scholarship in high school. She has made her mark at the Commonwealth Games and the prestigious Stawell Gift. This year, she achieved a lifelong dream by securing a place on the Australian Olympic team, representing Australia in the women’s 200m and 4x100m relay.
In an exclusive interview, our very own Sarah Gross speaks with Mia about her preparation for the Paris Olympics and her future aspirations. As Gross gears up for her Olympic debut in 2024, her story highlights the vital support from her family and the vibrant community of Torquay and Geelong.
Fun fact: Sarah and Mia are cousins, so we hope this interview between cousins offers a unique insight into the person behind the athlete.
Sarah: Firstly, thanks for meeting with me/Forte today. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it another 78 times: We’re all so proud of you! I know it’s been a chaotic couple of weeks between races, PBs, international travel, and your bags getting lost as you touched down in France… so we appreciate your time today.
Mia: *laughs* Thank you so much! It’s been a journey and a half to get to this point, but I wouldn’t change it for the world!
Sarah: Becoming an Olympian is a huge achievement – describe the rush of emotions you felt when you found out you were an Olympian.
Mia: When I got that call, my eyes immediately filled with tears! It’s been a really tough couple of months chasing fast times and points all around the world, so it was a really special moment of realisation that I’d just achieved a lifelong dream! Honestly, now 2 weeks till the games, and I’m still in disbelief! It was also a beautiful feeling being able to call my family and friends, as they have been along the journey with me for so long, with all of the highs and all of the lows that this sport has to offer!
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Sarah: Can you share with the community what initially sparked your passion for sprinting, and when did you realise you had the potential to shine on the global stage?
Mia: My story has been a long one as I’ve been injured every year since I was 13 years old. But Mum put me into little athletics when I won the school athletics carnivals, and she used to compete when she was younger! I first realised I had some potential when I turned 15 and made my first Australian team going to the Bahamas. It was definitely a really big experience for me as I was the youngest on the team, but it really made me want track to be my future!
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Sarah: Take us through a typical training day in your Olympic preparation. What does it involve?
Mia: I’ve really worked on building my tolerance to a lot of training. Last year I made the goal to become a brick wall in all areas of my training. My only rest day is on Sunday, but I am training 1 – 2 sessions a day throughout the week. Saturday is my biggest day of the week, as we have a lot of track work and a lot of gym to get through, which usually takes me about five hours; from there I go home and sleep because I am absolutely gassed! *laughs* I try to sleep as much as I can. My coach often says that I am like a cat; I do what I have to… and then I sleep in the meantime. This Olympic prep has definitely been a lot both physically and mentally, so I have made sure that I really focus on recovering my body for these aspects. Something that I have not put as a priority in the past.
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Sarah: You have one of the most incredibly positive and enthusiastic personalities of anyone I’ve ever met. Despite this, your journey to the Olympics has had its challenges. How do you stay motivated and focused, especially during challenging times?
Mia: Why thank you!! *laughs* I think it is one of my best assets as both an athlete and a person that I am very positive on life! I like to see the glass half full in every situation, and I think that this has really helped me develop into a stronger athlete, as nothing phases me! A lot of people can get wrapped up in performances and view this as their self-worth. It is very easy to do as an athlete in an individual sport. I am very lucky that I have an amazing support system of family and friends that never encourage negativity in my life, and when I am going through those unfortunate stages like an injury, I am always aspiring to better myself in some sort of way.
Sarah: Speaking of finding your focus. Do you have a particular song or playlist that fires you up before a race? If so, what’s on it?
Mia: I have a lot of songs on rotation when I am warming up. They vary from rap to classics. But I love songs that really make me start to visualise success e.g. Christina Aguilera’s ‘Fighter’ or Katy Perry‘s ‘Rise’. Songs about giving it your all and leaving everything on the track!
Sarah: What’s the best advice you’ve received from an athlete or coach, and what would you say to young athletes aspiring to follow in your footsteps?
Mia: My best advice was given to me by my Pa, who said to stop and smell the roses. At first, I had no idea what he meant and thought it was kind of weird, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learnt that it means to stop and enjoy all of the little things and celebrate all of the little wins, life moves so fast and sometimes we forget to appreciate the things we have or have done! My advice to younger athletes would definitely be to enjoy the little things and eat ice creams after wins and PBs!!!
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Sarah: For those who have watched the Netflix documentary Sprint, does it accurately capture what it’s like to be a sprinter? Also, can you explain how you transitioned from competing in the 100m to joining the team for both the 200m and the 4x100m relay?
Mia: I have been talking to other athletes, and it seems to be very controversial in how they portray sprinting. I personally loved it. It captures the suspense of the start lines, the different types of athletes, and what it takes to be an elite athlete!
I transitioned from the 100m to the 200m because I was told I didn’t have the best chance at racing in the 4×1 team at the Olympic Games. I believed that I was good enough to qualify on my own, and I backed myself to do this, so I went out in an individual event in an event that I hadn’t really trained for. When I made the decision, I called my parents crying because I knew that my chances would be severely decreased if I chose to go out by myself. The response that I got from my family, friends, and coach was that I had to dare to be great and how awesome it would be to call myself an individual Olympian! Sometimes you just have to back yourself in and believe in yourself.
Sarah: Looking ahead, you’re in peak form, and you’ve been smashing PBs all year. What are your goals and ambitions beyond the Paris Olympics?
Mia: Competing at the Commonwealth Games was amazing, but the Olympics is the ultimate dream. My main focus in Paris is making my family and Australia proud. I’m really looking forward to walking onto the track in Paris. It’s going to be a purple track, which I’ve never raced on before.
I’m in good form, injury-free, and ready mentally, emotionally, and physically… and I’m working on the financial side *laughs* A lot of people, including some Olympic teammates, can’t believe I balance training and competing with a job. I love my job, but in the next six months, I’m aiming to go full-time as an elite athlete. I’m chatting with brands about possible sponsorships that match my values and personality. I’m super positive about this and believe being an Olympian will help me reach new heights as an athlete. I’m already eyeing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, along with all the World Championships and Commonwealth Games teams in between… And a cheeky Australian record would be the cherry on the top! Outside of athletics, I’m all about using my platform to inspire young athletes and grow the sport in Australia. The buzz around the Netflix documentary Sprint is incredible, and I’m so excited to be part of that wave.
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Sarah: Lastly, what’s been the most surprising or unexpected aspect of being an Olympian so far?
Mia: Being able to call myself an Olympian is still taking some time to get used to, but the whole process and journey has been so wildly exactly what I could’ve dreamed and more! From the hard road to get to qualifying, to opening up my first Olympic Australian uniform; I am still yet to get into the village, but I know it will exceed expectations, and I will most likely be overwhelmed, but I will try to control all of my excitement! When I step out on that line, I want to give everything I have and more to my race, and hopefully, I can make Australia proud!!
Keep up with Mia’s Olympic journey here: https://www.instagram.com/mia.gross/
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