Plane Speaking

Maisy Baker

Oud Metha 2010–2017

It's hard to avoid referring to Maisy Baker as anything other than one of our true highfliers.

Especially now that she's almost completed her pilot's licence training back in her native Australia.

The Pool Was Her Proving Ground

Maisy joined Oud Metha FS2 in 2010 and quickly found her feet - and her stroke. In the pool, she blitzed records and astonished coaches with her focus, commitment, and ability to punch well above her weight.

On a swimming tour to Milton Keynes in England when she was in Year 5, Maisy was the youngest on the trip. She remembers chatting with members of other teams from around the world.

"We sat down with one of the African teams and were amazed when some of them told us it was the fifth year that they'd taken part in the tournament. Even our teachers doubted it because half of their team were taller than the DESS staff and looked more like 6th formers."

The competition was fierce. The company was memorable. And Maisy held her own.

The Lighter Side of Swimming

But it wasn't all serious training and international tournaments. There was a lighter side too.

"Every year before the school swimming galas the teachers would all dress up and swim a lap of the pool - well, they called it swimming! It was hilarious."

And then there was Mr Lohe, the PE teacher who apparently had very specific food preferences.

"I had to keep a very close eye on our PE Teacher Mr Lohe. Whenever he popped into class, he managed to pinch some of my crisps on his way out! And it wasn't just my crisps that took his fancy. Even when we were at the Irish Village for his leaving party, he swooped down and snatched the last sausage from my plate. He was amazing and will always have a special place in my heart."

Taking Flight

These days, Maisy has traded the pool for the cockpit. Back in Australia, she's logging flight hours and working towards her pilot's licence - a different kind of challenge, but one that requires the same focus and commitment she brought to swimming.

From breaking records in the water to learning to navigate the skies, Maisy's trajectory has been anything but ordinary.

Though we suspect Mr Lohe would still try to steal her crisps if given half a chance.