Brisbane para-swimmer Airlie Davis, representing Nudgee College Swimming, is achieving national success and targeting Paralympic Games selection after hurdling major spinal surgery and while managing an autism spectrum diagnosis.
Health Journey and Resilience
Airlie Davis faced health difficulties from early life, being born prematurely at 35 weeks. Around the age of four, she was diagnosed with traits on the autism spectrum, which can involve sensitivities to noise and smells, a direct communication style, and related anxiety. She also manages hyperflexibility and reduced muscle tone, leading to joint dislocations, including both knees.
At age 10 or 11, she underwent major spinal surgery for idiopathic scoliosis, requiring bone fusion supported by two titanium rods and eighteen screws. Despite these hurdles, she began swimming around twelve months old. She showed remarkable resilience by competing in the Pacific School Games in Adelaide shortly after her back operation, winning gold and breaking a record as part of the Queensland 10-12 years Mixed Multiclass Medley Relay team, an event she recalls as highly memorable.
Swimming Career and Achievements
Competing in the S14 classification for intellectual impairment, Davis consistently represents Nudgee College Swimming in Brisbane. She is currently coached by Michael Gould, having previously trained under Matthew Wilson at Nudgee; she was also listed under coach Tom Noblett for a specific Brisbane representative team selection in 2022.
She made her international debut for Australia at the 2022 Virtus Oceania Asia Games held in Brisbane, followed by competing at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in Vichy, France, her first world international competition.
Nationally, she has achieved significant success, winning gold in the Girls 16-18 years 100 metre Backstroke S14 at the 2025 Australian Age and MC Age Championships with a time of 1:14.50. This followed a gold medal in the 100 metre Backstroke S14 (1:16.38) and a silver medal in the 50 metre Backstroke S14 (35.37) at the 2024 championships. She also secured a bronze medal in the Women’s 50 metre Backstroke Multi-Class at the 2024 Australian Open Championships (35.96).
Her talent was recognised early, leading to her selection for Swimming Australia’s Futures Camp in October 2023, which aimed to identify swimmers with potential for the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games. Davis has also performed well at the state level, earning medals at the Queensland Championships, including bronze in the 50-metre Freestyle Multi-Class in December 2024 (30.70) and bronze in the 13-14 years MC 100-metre Butterfly in 2020.
Future Goals and Community Context
Davis has clearly stated her ambition to represent the Australian Dolphins swim team at future Paralympic Games, with the 2028 Los Angeles and particularly the 2032 Brisbane Games being key targets. She has also previously mentioned the 2024 Games as a goal.
Airlie Davis draws inspiration from fellow Australian Paralympic swimmers Brenden Hall and Lakeisha “Lucky” Patterson, viewing them as proof that disability does not prevent reaching ambitious goals. Alongside her demanding training schedule, she pursued her education at Mount Alvernia College in Brisbane; as of March 2023, she was undertaking studies for the Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement and a Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways.
Her journey and the challenges faced by developing para-athletes regarding funding and support were highlighted during work experience she completed with organisation OBE Organic in 2023.
Published Date 28-April-2025
