Matilda (Tilly) Kearns

OLYMPIAN, WORLD CUP MVP & WATER POLO STAR

Matilda (Tilly) Kearns is an Australian two-time Olympian, Olympic silver medallist and one of the world’s leading water polo players. Following an outstanding season with Spanish club CN Mataró, she was named MVP of Spain’s premier women’s water polo league, before returning home to lead the Australian Stingers to bronze at the 2026 Water Polo World Cup, where she was crowned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She was also recognised as Water Polo Australia’s Senior Female Athlete of the Year.

But Tilly’s story isn’t just about sport. It’s about what happens when you repeatedly throw yourself into the deep end – new countries, new teams, new languages and new cultures – and figure out how to not just survive, but lead.

From Sydney to the University of Southern California, the Aussie Stingers and now the professional league in Europe, Tilly has built a high-performance career across multiple continents, cultures and coaching systems.

She’s developed a sharp, experience-grounded perspective on leadership, team culture, resilience and what truly drives performance under pressure. She brings that to stages, boardrooms and screens with the same energy she brings to the pool.

Off the pool deck, Tilly has built a powerful and highly engaged social media presence, with more than 640,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram. Her authentic, behind-the-scenes content, combined with a growing media profile that includes appearances on Wide World of Sports, positions her as a compelling voice across sport, culture and high performance.

Tilly is available for speaking engagements, corporate hosting, media and brand partnerships.