Cape Town · 2026
Open-water swimmer, Cape Town
By the numbers
The highlights
Mia found long-distance swimming this year while training for water polo. Since May she has crossed Table Bay, swum from Europe to Asia and rounded Cape Point.
Table Bay, Cape Town · Freedom Swim
The swim at the heart of Stroke for Hope, Mia's fundraiser for children's water safety.
Sources: Herzlia, Big Bay Events results
Dardanelles, Turkey · Europe to Asia
A world-famous crossing from Europe to Asia, and a chance to meet open-water swimmers from around the world.
Source: Herzlia
Around Cape Point
Her biggest challenge yet, swum on a few days' notice through currents, kelp beds and seals.
Sources: Big Bay Events results, Herzlia
* Herzlia reports 2 hours 44 minutes. The exact seconds are still to be confirmed.
Gallery · 22 May 2026
Photos: Braun family
About
Mia Braun is 15 and in Grade 10 at United Herzlia Schools in Cape Town. She started out playing water polo at school and discovered a love for long-distance swimming in 2026 while training for it.
She has turned that love into a way to help others: her Stroke for Hope project raises money so children from Atlantis can learn to swim and be safer in the water.
“For me, the goal is no longer just about how far I can swim, but how many lives I can help change along the way.”
Mia, quoted by Herzlia
Water polo
Water polo is where it all started. Mia was selected for the South African water polo team for the Maccabi Games in July 2026.
Source: Cape Jewish Chronicle
Charity
After learning that dozens of children drown in the Western Cape every year, Mia set up Stroke for Hope as her Junior City Council community project. She tied the fundraising to her Robben Island swim.
The money supports Glide Along Aquatics in Atlantis, a programme that gives children swimming lessons and water-safety education. Mia also sponsored eight Glide Along swimmers to attend the Freda Barnard Gala in Oudtshoorn in October.
Donate to Stroke for HopeSources: BackaBuddy, Cape Jewish Chronicle, Herzlia
Leadership
In 2026 Mia was chosen as one of 50 Cape Town Junior City Councillors from a record 929 applications. The Junior City Council is a one-year, non-political City programme that teaches young people how local government works and builds their leadership skills.
As part of her application she visited Alpine Primary School in Mitchells Plain. Each councillor runs a community project, and Mia's is Stroke for Hope.
Sources: City of Cape Town, Cape Jewish Chronicle, Herzlia
Community & interfaith
Mia volunteers at the Tikvah Food Bank and spends free time preparing food for homeless people.
Source: Cape Jewish Chronicle
She has spent time with The Little Optimist at the V&A Waterfront, which uses sailing to build children's confidence, and shared her story with the children.
Source: Herzlia
Placeholder: add details of Mia's interfaith work here. We couldn't find a published source for it yet, so nothing has been filled in.
Training
Source: Cape Jewish Chronicle
In the news
Words for Mia
Messages for Mia from the people who cheer her on.
Mia, I’ve stood on the shore for every swim and watched you head into cold, open water without hesitating. What makes me proudest isn’t the finish lines. It’s the determination that gets you there. Whatever goal you set, in the water or out of it, you go after it with heart and grit, and you get there the way you swim: one stroke at a time. I couldn’t be prouder to be your dad.Love, Dad
A message from Mom is coming soon.
A message from her teachers is coming soon.
A message from friends and family is coming soon.
Messages are read before they're added to the site.
Swim dreams
Got a swim-related challenge or a swim you dream of doing? Tell Mia about it and why it matters to you, and she'll see if she can help make your swim dream happen.