Don’t let anything or anyone get in the way of your dreams!"
The beach volleyball champion, currently ranked fourth in the world, after hers and team mate Taliqua Clancy’s recent turn at the Paris Olympics; has had a career beyond her wildest dreams, but the true mark of success for her is being able to inspire others to pursue their passions – just as Aussie stars Kerri Pottharst and Natalie Cook once did for her.
Mariafe spent her early childhood in Lima, Peru, where she would practise digging the ball on the sidelines while her older sister competed in volleyball tournaments. At age 11, the family moved to Australia, where her brother first introduced her to beach volleyball at Manly, Sydney. It was love at first spike.
At age 13, Mariafe became a breakout star, making her international debut at the Under 19 World Championships. She went on to compete in eight world junior representative teams before qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics at age 21, and winning a silver medal five years later in Tokyo and coming achingly close to a medal again this time out in Paris; standout performances which were inspired by a postcard signed by Kerri and Natalie that Mariafe had come across in her childhood. From the moment she’d seen the sporting legends’ words urging people to chase their dreams, Mariafe had set her sights on becoming an Olympic medallist one day.
A strong role model for aspiring athletes, Mariafe is passionate about building resilience and courage in the community. Beach volleyball is a mental game, says Mariafe, and playing in all types of weather conditions (sometimes extreme) has helped build the inner strength, discipline and confidence that she exudes in interviews and public events. And as her name suggests, she always brings a touch of sunshine as well as courage and grace in the way that she approaches each game.
Not content to just enjoy sporting success, Mariafe is also a star off the court. In late 2023, she launched a loungewear label ‘del Solar the Label’ with her husband Jack, in response to a need for “stylish and comfortable but not daggy” clothing to wear while not competing. Like everything she does, the range reflects Mariafe’s core values of being genuine and accessible.
Mariafe is available for media and PR opportunities, corporate hosting and speaking as well as brand partnerships.
Talking Points
Finding Your Inner Strength & Confidence
For most sports there is an "ideal" size and shape, but being an outlier doesn't mean an athlete can't be successful. Mariafe knows this all too well when she was told she was too short to make it as a professional athlete. She wasn’t always the first pick because of her height, but this gave Mariafe the resilience, passion, confidence to fight for her dreams. Finding Your Inner Strength & Confidence
A strong role model for aspiring athletes, Mariafe is passionate about building the same resilience, passion and courage in the community. Beach volleyball is a mental game, says Mariafe, and playing in all types of weather conditions (sometimes extreme) and diverse locations around the world has helped build the inner strength and discipline that is required to compete at elite level. Mariafe speaks about how she broke down sport stereotypes, dealt with the challenges thrown at her, found her inner strength and confidence, and offers her advice for others on how they can do the same.
From Peru to Volleyball Star to Entrepreneur
Mariafe’s personal journey to becoming an Olympic star is one of dedication and absolute commitment making her an inspiring voice for young athletes.From Peru to Volleyball Star to Entrepreneur
She spent her early childhood in Lima, Peru, before moving to Australia at age 11 with very little and speaking no English.
Forced to start all over again, Mariafe’s brother first introduced her to beach volleyball at Manly, Sydney. It was love at first spike. Today, her commitment to her sport and her unwavering determination have seen her become one of the best in the world - and in Paris 2024, she is widely tipped to earn another Olympic medal with her teammate Taliqua Clancy.
But her success as an athlete is not enough for Mariafe who truly understands the importance of future proofing her career, andin 2023 she launched a loungewear label ‘del Solar the Label’ with her husband Jack. Proving that you never need to be just one thing - Mariafe shares her journey from schoolgirl, to world-class athlete to entrepreneur and the lessons she’s learnt along the way.
