Achieving quietly. I think being humble is a hugely important trait.
Named the best center in the world at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, and returning from the 2024 Paris Olympics with a silver medal, Tilly's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Growing up under the influence of her father, former Wallaby Phil Kearns, Tilly was inspired by his global sporting achievements. Observing the respect and admiration others had for him instilled in her the importance of leading by example. This philosophy is reflected in her day-to-day life as she strives to inspire young women, advocating for lower barriers to sports participation.
Tilly first encountered water polo at age 12, and by 15, she was determined to turn her passion into a career. At 19, she qualified for the Aussie Stingers and made her mark at the FINA World League Finals. Her contributions were crucial in the Stingers’ fifth-place finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and her outstanding role in the Paris Olympics campaign was instrumental to the team’s success.
In 2019, Tilly took a bold step by moving to the United States to join the University of Southern California (USC) water polo squad. This decision required significant sacrifices, including leaving behind relationships and the Sydney lifestyle she cherished. However, her dedication paid off—she became USC’s top scorer n 2023, netting 64 goals, and was a finalist for the prestigious Peter J. Cutino Award in both 2022 and 2023. Additionally, Tilly has been on the Academic Honor Roll at USC every year, reflecting her commitment to balancing athletics with academics.
Tilly’s engaging personality has made her a favourite on social media, where she shares the realities of life as an athlete with over half a million followers on TikTok. Her fun-loving nature and relatable insights resonate particularly with young women, allowing her to influence and inspire a new generation.
With a philosophy centered around balance, Tilly understands the importance of combining rigorous training with enjoyment. This grounded approach helps her navigate the challenges of professional sports while ensuring she approaches every match with a sense of fun rather than pressure. Her ability to transform nervousness into excitement is one of her superpowers, a valuable lesson she imparts to her followers and audiences.
With her unique blend of athletic prowess and relatable charisma, she continues to be a powerful advocate for girls in sports and an inspiring role model.
Tilly Kearns is available for media and PR opportunities, corporate hosting, speaking engagements, and brand partnerships.
Talking Points
Stepping Outside your Comfort Zone
How far are you willing to go to make your dreams a reality? Tilly’s lifelong dream was to go to the Tokyo Olympics as a 19 year old, but at 17 she knew that the training and environment she was in wouldn’t get her there. She decided it was time to take a chance and make the necessary changes to deliver her best. It was frightening and uncomfortable but in those choices Tilly found her feet and incredible success. Stepping Outside your Comfort Zone
Speaking to how she made the uncomfortable comfortable, Tilly grips audiences with her refreshing perspective on what happens when you allow yourself to step into a growth zone.
The Journey to the Olympics - From High School to Tokyo
For many, working out what to do after high school can take time and much soul searching, but Tilly Kearns always knew exactly what she wanted to do, it was just a matter of how she was going to make that happen. The Journey to the Olympics - From High School to Tokyo
The journey was far from easy and at every step Tilly needed to make tough decisions - taking chances, and challenging the status quo but her efforts paid off and Tilly found herself part of the team competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Even then though the challenges continued - having the Games postponed required true resilience and a shifting mindset and in this keynote, Tilly shares it all.
Students will be hooked by Tilly’s unconventional journey and her ability to demonstrate the importance of hard work, dedication, resilience and team work.
Lessons from a Female Athlete
Navigating the way to the top of your field is hard for any athlete, let alone female athletes. More often than not women face adversity, inequalities and have fight to breakdown stereotypes day after day. Despite being only 23 years old, Tilly Kearns is wise beyond her years, discussing the importance of balance, dealing with hard leadership, working in a team and her personal stories of adversity as one of Australia’s top female athletes.
Lessons from a Female Athlete
