Geelong athletes Mia Gross and Joel Baden reflect on Paris Olympics selection

A Geelong sprinter selected for her first Olympics has opened up on the “scary” decision to help her achieve her dream as a local high jumper was rewarded for his resilience to earn a second Games chance.

Torquay product and athlete Mia Gross. Picture: Supplied.

Two Geelong athletics stars with roller coaster journeys are off to the Paris Olympics.

Sprinter Mia Gross and high jumper Joel Baden were on Monday named in Australia’s second largest athletics team for an Olympic Games with 75 athletes set to travel to the French Capital.

Gross, 23, will make her Olympics debut after only earlier this year making the decision to focus on the 200m, instead of the 100m.

Two weeks before the National Championships, she recorded a 200m personal best of 23.16 before going onto win a silver medal against the country’s best.

After a nervous wait, Gross who is currently in the Italian city of Milan, can look ahead to Paris after she also earned a place among six other athletes who will aim to compete in Australia’s 4x100m relay team.

“I knew I was capable of running that again and if not faster and I really wanted to back myself in for an individual spot,” Gross said of her decision to change her events.

“At the time it was really scary as I definitely have more of a shot at making a relay team of 6 compared to an individual selection where you have to be in the quota of 48 of the best athletes in the world to be even considered.

“I still hadn’t had any runs in my sample pot to even put myself into it yet. Looking back I am glad I made that jump and went all in on my dream.

“It wasn’t easy and I raced over and over and over again in so many countries with no room for error but I did it.”

Mia Gross won the silver medal in the 200m at the national athletics championships in Adelaide. Picture: Supplied.

When the news of Gross’ place on the team, a call to mum back home was the first thing Gross wanted to do.

Since starting out at Grovedale Little Athletics as a youngster, she was someone Gross always looked up to.

“I burst into tears like a weight had come off my shoulders and I could breathe,” she said.

“It is a moment I have been dreaming of for as long as I can remember and to be told I am now an Olympian was truly one of the best moments. It still doesn’t feel real.

“Mum played a huge part in helping me always stay positive in life and to always be happy. She was the first person I called when I found out and it truly was so special finally being able to tell her.”

For Baden, his selection came after years of perseverance.

After debuting at the Rio Olympics in 2016, the now 28-year-old missed selection for Tokyo and immediately went to work.

His training paid off and in 2023 cleared 2.33m, moving him to number three all-time in Australian history.

“To think I was only 20 years old when I first spotted the rings, making my childhood dream come true to having another opportunity 8 years later is a massive privilege,” Baden wrote on social media after his selection.

“My athletics journey in between this time has been a mixed bag, filled with moments of extreme frustration and disappointment to the incredible highs and elation felt when you tap into your potential and hit a personal best.

“In what can be a rather solipsistic sport, the most special memories I’ve had competing involved the shared experience and sense of community whilst jumping.

“If I can tap into that, anything can happen these Games.”

Originally published as Geelong athletes Mia Gross and Joel Baden reflect on Paris Olympics selection