Sport
17 June, 2022
Swimmer chases Olympic dream
MAKEEA Schimke may be only 10 years old but already she has a goal and a dream to swim in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
The Toogoolawah State School student has been swimming in the pool since the age of two as she copied her older brother and other children while they trained.
But it was only two years ago that Makeea started swimming squad, and she has come along in leaps and bounds.
A member of Kilcoy Swimming Club, Makeea was named age champion at U9 level last year and at U10 level this year.
Makeea was one of several young Somerset residents to be awarded a Somerset Excellence Bursary through the Somerset Regional Council (SRC).
The $100 from the Council covered part of Makeea’s fees for attending the Queensland State Championships for Swimming girls 10 year olds at Chandler, from March 21 to 23.
Joe Abeya from the Grand Hotel Esk took on sponsoring Makeea and has done raffles, and he raised more than $500 and has given extra towards uniforms and membership.
The lead-up to the championships for Makeea included the school swimming sports day, when she was named age champion at Toogoolawah State School.
Makeea went on to trial at Gatton for Lockyer region for 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke.
She was again named age champion.Her times for 50m and 100m breaststroke were fast enough to qualify for the Darling Downs team to compete in the Queensland State Championships.
While at Chandler, Makeea also made it into the freestyle relay and medley relay, and did breaststroke in the medley.
She swam her best times at Chandler, achieving a time of 46.92 in the 50m breaststroke to take four seconds off her qualifying time at Gatton.
In the process, Makeea became the tenth fastest 10-year-old female swimmer in Queensland.
She also achieved a personal best in the 100m breaststroke as she competed in this for only the third time.
Her time of 147.19 followed her time of 155.09 at Gatton three weeks earlier, and placed her 11th in Queensland for 10-year-old girls.
With the pools now shut in the Somerset region, Makeea is doing core workouts arms and legs to try to keep fit.
She is on standby if someone pulls out of the national titles at Chandler in August.
Makeea’s mum Annette said her daughter loved training seven days a week with coach Dennye Mosley, and that Makeea had a brilliant bond with her coach.
Annette said Makeea wanted to be just like her idol Jade Edmistone, the Australian and world record holder for 50m breaststroke.
“Makeea’s dream next year if she makes it to states again is not to win but to better herself from this year,” Annette said.
“Makeea likes to set herself little goals each year to be the best she can.
“Everyone is a winner for competing and doing their best.
“That is what I have taught my daughter Makeea and she has the attitude right from the start.”
In addition to swimming, Makeea also enjoys running and playing soccer to keep fit.
She represented Toogoolawah State School in cross country at Gatton last month.
As for her Olympic ambitions, Makeea would like to swim in the 50m and 100m breaststroke in the 2032 Brisbane Games.
“As a mum I will support her all the way,” Annette said.
