Inaugural AIS and AUSF Sports Scholarship Recipient, Isaiah Muller – A Story of Determination and Drive
Published Thu 12 Jun 2025
This year, a new initiative was launched to support elite athletes and coaches balancing the demands of high-performance sport with education. The AIS and AUSF Sports Scholarship, a joint venture between the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Australian University Sport and Fitness (AUSF), offers $5,000 per year for up to three years, enabling recipients to pursue tertiary studies at The University of Adelaide while continuing to train and compete at the highest level.
We are pleased to announce that Isaiah Muller is the inaugural recipient of this scholarship. Isaiah isn’t just building a sporting career - he’s helping shape the future of inclusive sport in Australia.
Totally blind since infancy after being diagnosed with retinoblastoma at just 18 months old, Isaiah’s journey into sport began as a way to find connection, confidence, and community. He found his place in Goalball, a fast-paced team sport designed for visually impaired athletes where all players wear blackout eye shades to level the playing field.
“Everyone wears blacked-out eye shades in Goalball,” he explains. “It evens the playing field for visually impaired athletes. It’s physical, fast-paced, tactical and I loved it straight away.”
What makes Isaiah’s story even more incredible is the landscape in which he’s paving his path. There are only two high-level Goalball athletes in South Australia, meaning Isaiah often trains alone, or with his dad, who also happens to be a national team assistant coach, by his side. That family commitment has become an important part of his development, helping him maintain the edge required to compete internationally.
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Since taking up Goalball at 10 years old, Isaiah has quickly risen to the international stage. A national team athlete since 2019, he’s competed around the world, winning medals in China, Japan, and in 2024 he claimed gold at the Australian Championships in Adelaide. In April 2025, he also added two more bronze medals to his name - one at the Berlin Nations Cup in Germany and another in Trakai, Lithuania.
At the same time, he’s pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in Psychology at the University of Adelaide.
“There are so many overlaps between sport and study - resilience, commitment, setting goals,” he says. “And studying psychology helps with my personal development as an athlete, too.”
He's also a SASI scholarship holder, and now with the additional support of the AIS & AUSF Sports Scholarship, Isaiah has the financial backing to help manage the high costs of training, international travel, and balancing dual careers in sport and education. This is especially important as he works towards qualification for the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.
This level of support matters more than ever. Para-sport in Australia is undergoing a transformative shift, with more funding, recognition, and pathways being developed for athletes like Isaiah to not just participate but succeed. It reflects the broader mission of the AIS ‘Win Well’ strategy, and AUSF’s vision to develop dual career athletes who are prepared for life during and after sport.
“Sport gave me a space where I could be myself and not be defined by my disability,” Isaiah shares. “Now, I want to help create those same opportunities for others.”
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His message for other young para-athletes is one of perseverance:
“Keep working hard and stay committed. You’ll have bad days, we all do, but push through. Sometimes you’re the reason your team loses, and that hurts, but learn from it and come back better.”
This story isn’t just about one scholarship or one athlete. It’s a reminder that everyone can find a place in sport, a place where their strengths are recognised, where disability is celebrated, and where big dreams, like representing Australia at the Paralympics, are within reach.
As the first ever AIS & AUSF Sports Scholarship recipient, Isaiah is leading the way and we're certain this is only the beginning of his exciting journey. Working toward LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032, don’t just remember his name - get ready to cheer it!
