The Price You Pay
Host Natalie Cook, Olympic gold medalist and five-time Olympian, shares the inspiring and untold stories of athletes who face financial obstacles in their pursuit of becoming Olympian's and Paralympian’s.
Discover the sacrifices, challenges, and unwavering determination behind their pursuit of greatness.
Be inspired by their resilience and determination to turn their dreams into reality.
The Price You Pay
21: Hidden Battles Below the Water's Surface: Waterpolo's Tenealle Fasala's Unwavering Commitment
What does it truly cost to chase Olympic dreams? For water polo star Tenealle Fasala, the price has been devastating—twice being cut from Olympic teams, including watching from the sidelines as the squad she helped prepare won silver at the Paris Games without her.
Tenealle’s journey defies the glossy highlight reels we typically associate with elite sport. Born into a swimming dynasty (her father an Olympian, mother a world-class swimmer), she instead chose the physically brutal world of water polo at age 11. Her natural strength and throwing ability quickly marked her as special, earning her spots on state and national teams by her teens.
The raw emotion in Tenealle’s voice is palpable as she recounts the crushing disappointment of missing Olympic selection—not once, but twice. What sets her story apart is what happened after each setback. Rather than retreating, she channeled her heartbreak into improving her game, even accepting the painful role of reserve for Paris, training alongside the team knowing she wouldn't compete. When that team went on to win silver, her mixed emotions of pride for her teammates and personal devastation reveal the complex psychological terrain elite athletes must navigate.
Beyond emotional resilience, the financial reality of her journey is sobering. Working four days a week while maintaining an elite training schedule, studying nursing, and living on tuna and rice, Tenealle exemplifies the sacrifices required when passion outweighs practicality. Her mother reveals spending years repaying loans just to fund junior competitions, a stark reminder that athletic talent alone isn't enough—financial backing is equally crucial.
Now focused on LA 2028 with a transformed mindset, Tenille is no longer driven by fear of failure but by authentic self-expression. "Sport is a big part of my life, but it's not who I am," she reflects, demonstrating wisdom beyond her years. Her journey continues, but the lessons in resilience she's already revealed remain invaluable for anyone facing setbacks on the path to their goals.
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My name is Luke Morrison and I'm from the Gurangy Gurangy mob and I wish to acknowledge the lands on which the Price you Pay podcast is being recorded, on the Meeinjin country. I feel the spirits of my Indigenous ancestors having my back as I step into the boxing ring. This podcast pays homage to the tradition of storytelling when it shares athlete journeys and wishes to extend its respect to all Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Nat Cook :Welcome to Season 3 of the Price you Pay podcast hosted by myself, nat Cook, five-time Olympian and gold medalist, alongside our superstar interviewer, sarah Sarah from Chatterbox Media. Through conversations with Aussie Athlete Fund recipients, the truth emerges of what it truly takes to reach the highest echelons of sport in this country. By introducing family and key members of the athlete's journey to the discussion, we uncover the hidden costs and barriers they face, while getting a sense of the impact it has on their communities. Indulge me as I take you on a journey of my legacy project that spurred the creation of this podcast and the need to share these amazing athlete stories. I created the Aussie Athlete Fund to provide our next generation aspiring to or wearing the green and gold with the financial skills, tools, networks and opportunities to take care of their financial well-being. I personally retired after 20 years, $300,000 in debt, two medals, no superannuation, and I don't want that for the next generation. I don't want them to continue to pay a price for the honour to represent our country. I'm most proud of the athletes in the Aussie Athlete Fund designing their own initiatives to fundraise. We show them a tool for their fundraising roadmap and then they go about finding the networks, finding the businesses asking people for support along their journey. They get to deal with rejection, they get to deal with success. They have a community, a connected community, so they know they're not alone in this process and I really love how they take ownership for their own journey and that is what I'm most proud of.
Nat Cook :My vision for the Aussie Athlete Fund in the short term is to grow the awareness of the fund, but also of these athletes journeys, to inspire businesses and individuals who have the means to connect with these athlete journeys. They work so hard on the track, in the pool, on the court, to represent this great country and we need people to back their journeys. We need people to get emotionally connected. So that's it in the short term. I need to raise funds, I need to grow awareness and I need to teach the athletes how to be responsible for their own fundraising journeys. In the next seven years, towards 32, I want people to know how important the green and gold athlete is for our country and how it not only inspires our next generation of athletes but our businesses and the whole country to lift, to be the best they can be.
Nat Cook :It's so important to share this podcast not only with our athletes, so they have a tool for their fundraising, to share their stories with people that might like to back them on the journey, but also so that people know the depth of effort that these athletes go to Not only the athletes, their family and friends and their supporting community to help them rise to represent all of us on a world stage. And I want people to be able to be inspired and motivated, like I am when I hear all these athlete stories, to want to help them fundraise and help them look after their financial well-being. So enjoy listening to the stories, pick one or two that you want to back in and make sure they know that you're supporting them. And now, with complete trust and confidence, I hand over the microphone, and I know that might be hard for you to believe, but I have to go out and fundraise for our athletes. As she continues the conversation, our star interviewer, sarah.
Sarah Maxwell:Today we sit down with an Aussie battler who has sacrificed and represented her country in the sport of water polo. Tenille Fasala comes from an illustrious line of swimmers. Dad is an Olympian, mom is a world-class swimmer, and even her siblings choosing to swim at a high level. And yet she chose water polo at age 11. Brisbane born, her talent in the pool was obvious straight away and by 13, she was part of the Queensland Academy of Sport, the QAS, representing her state and captaining her teams. Then came the call up to join the Aussie Stingers Olympic squad for Tokyo 2020. All seemed tracking for her fairy tale run to the games when she received the devastating news that she had been cut from the team. How does one even recover from that? How do you pick yourself up and keep going? Heartbroken, she found the fortitude to allow her disappointment to fuel her game to new levels of hard work and determination, work and determination. With a new head coach at the helm, tennille was invited once again to join the Stingers training squad, where she proudly represented her country at the FINA World League Intercontinental Cup, where the team won gold. Her vision squarely set on Paris 2024, her dreams were shattered once again two months out from the Olympics when she was told she'd missed out on Olympic selection for the team. Attempting to digest this news, tennille was then asked to be on the reserve squad that would help her team prepare for the Olympics. Rather than return home to family and her job that sustained her financially, she persevered and traveled with the team, did all the hard work without pay and had no Olympic Games to look forward to. We will have to ask Tennille how she then felt when her team subsequently had a magical dream finish of a silver medal at the Paris Games.
Sarah Maxwell:I am in awe of Tennille's sacrifice and perseverance, and I look forward to understanding more of what it takes and what we can learn from a woman who has demonstrated incredible honor in the face of challenge. She has big goals for LA 2028, and so the story of her career is still in progress. Joining her in our conversation today is her number one supporter, partner Alex of four years, and mother Ricky, to shed light especially on those early years of Tennille's journey. So are you ready, family? Yes, definitely. Oh, you should see them. They're like all three, poised and ready. Mom is wondering if she's gonna get the first question, but she's not. So, mom, you're just gonna have to wait, because I like to get a snapshot of today before we go back and learn about this journey that you're on Tennille because, look, you're 23 years old, you're studying nursing, you're training for LA 2028, you're wearing a QAS shirt, you work at the QAS, so you know. I'm so curious. What does a week in the life of your life look like right now?
Tenealle Fasala:Yeah, I think it's definitely busy and people always ask me how I manage like my time and everything that I've got on, and I think it's just something you just learn on the go, like you're going to drop the ball on some things, and that's okay. But the day in a life is kind of we have training in the morning.
Tenealle Fasala:The day in a life is kind of we have training in the morning, we have to be there at around 6.30. We get in, do a session, then we get out and I'll either have work or study to do so. At the moment I'm working four days a week and I have study on Thursday, so I'll go to work from 8 till around 4 o'clock, I'll go home for about 30 minutes and get my stuff and then I'll go back to the pool, where my pool session is from six to eight 30. And then I don't get home again until around nine o'clock. So that's like the casual, normal day.
Sarah Maxwell:Okay, and do you ever see Alex, who's sitting next to you, or is this just you?
Tenealle Fasala:when you do podcasts um, it's hard because when we do have a afternoon off, I often have coaching, because I always like to give back to the sport and always like to help the youngers like come through and learn some things that I wish I knew. So on the afternoons off I'll either be coaching or, if I have some time on the weekend, I'll do one-on-one coaching as well. So, yes, fitting into a social life is pretty hard. I wouldn't say I really have one. But also my friends my main, like closest, friend group is from Water Polo, so I see them every day.
Sarah Maxwell:And what about mom? When do you get to see her Nine o'clock at night, mom, when do you get to see her? Oh, nine o'clock at night, but do you go to her house after you talk?
Tenealle Fasala:on the phone. Yeah, well, no, so I live at home um you live at home.
Sarah Maxwell:Okay, I was gonna yeah so I live at home.
Tenealle Fasala:We all rent at the moment, so it's Alex, me, mom and then my sister, tariqa, and her partner also live there.
Sarah Maxwell:Oh, you all live together.
Tenealle Fasala:Yeah.
Mum Rickie:Oh, the wild house.
Sarah Maxwell:It's the best thing. That is pretty cool, isn't it, mum? I'm sure when you vision your life, you know being able to live with your daughter one day in that way. That's pretty cool, I like that. I don't know what my mum would think of it, but I think she would like it.
Mum Rickie:No, it's really good. It's like I think if I was by myself I'd be. You know what do I do? You know I work and just go home and be my by myself, but um, with everybody, they keep you on the toe, on your toes well, yeah, just knowing her schedule would keep you on your toes yeah, yeah, and you know it's really good they're older now I don't have to clean up after them. Yeah, it's like the grand what I hear about grandparenting.
Sarah Maxwell:You know it's a better, it's a better role because you don't have to do as much of the cleanup. But so, mom, it is your time as well. We want to know a little bit about young. To neil um, because, as we mentioned, you were a world-class swimmer, dad wasclass swimmer, dad was a swimmer, everyone was into swimming, right? So how do you choose water polo?
Mum Rickie:How did that all play out? Well, we had we're an aquatic family, basically and we put them all through Learn to Swim. Both her siblings went through Learn to Swim. Then, when it came to Tennille, we water baby straight off, but learn to swim, no. She quickly, quickly worked out that each lesson learn to swim lesson, at the end of it you got a lolly snake. So she would go from one class to another. So each half hour she'd be eating about five walleye slakes. Like she just worked that out. Yeah, so then, um, we and she wasn't really interested in anything else, it was just playing in the water, got to school, got home when the others were going and doing their sports, she would be our little couch potato and just do nothing.
Sarah Maxwell:She's such a hard worker now, so she was. Yeah, I know it's a complete turnaround.
Mum Rickie:See, never say never.
Mum Rickie:Hi, this is good. Yeah. So we were at um when tania went to um graceful um primary School and every Friday, you know, they had those sports days that they do for them, and they introduced there was like an AFL, the new tag sort of one they did, and they introduced water polo as well, and Tennille, being the couch player, didn't want to run around a field, so he chose water. So yep, jumped in the water and it just took off from there. Um, she's always been really strong. She can throw the shot book, throw the discus, um, and it came to a point in her life where she had to choose between the sports.
Mum Rickie:Um, instead of a lot of kids that have teddy bears when they go to sleep and stuff like that, we bought her a water polo one one christmas, thinking, oh, maybe this will get her off the couch. Good job, athlete parents. And yep, she slept with it every single night. It was just her big teddy bear. The water polo, yeah. So, um, after that, when she got a little bit older, we took her to. I used to play water polo after I swam and I played for Barras, which was out of Musgrove Park, so I played with a lot of like Debbie Hanley, the Olympians that had come through, and they had a under 12, I think it was Try it Under 12,. I think it was Try it Under 12, try it, dag. And it wasn't water polo, as in where you couldn't touch the bottom, you could actually stand on the bottom.
Tenealle Fasala:Yeah, so it was good, this is sounding better.
Mum Rickie:Yeah, yeah. So she jumped in on that and they were getting them to throw the balls. Tennille picked up this ball and just threw it, like she can throw a shot put. So she just threw it. And I'll never forget the look on Mel Rippon's face and Jacko's I don't know Jacko's last name Jacko's face, and they immediately turned around and then walked up the uh, up the stairs to us and said oh, you wouldn't mind if your daughter plays for the under 13s this year. We think she would be good. So that's sort of where it where it started.
Sarah Maxwell:Yeah, that's like that's a good transition. My mind wants to know a little bit more about the what water polo, what skills are required? And, mom, you sort of just alluded to strength, like the um to neil, if you could just give us that little bit of background on what it really takes to excel. So you had that natural stuff, but then you were standing on the bottom of the pool initially. So where's the swimming skill come in? Where does? Is it like powerful legs? What is the kind of skills required?
Tenealle Fasala:I think water polo is one of those sports that you kind of need everything, but also every single athlete is different. Like not two, no two athletes are going to be the exact same. So I think that's one thing that I absolutely love about water polo is it doesn't matter really what your skill base is, as long as you have those main things. So like treading water like I learned how to tread water when I was a child and that was like the easiest thing for me. So doing that compared to some of the athletes who just get in and they're like I all I know how to do is swim and they don't actually know how to do like breaststroke, kick or anything like that.
Tenealle Fasala:So strong legs is definitely one of them and power is another. But, like for my position, I need to be strong and powerful and all those things, but someone who's out on the perimeter in water polo they need to be fast, so they need to be agile and they need to be the sprinters and the ones who cover all the ground around the pool. So I think that's what makes water polo such a beautiful sport is you can be totally different to someone and you can still be the best in the team in your area, so I think that's what I love about it Okay, but you're missing one thing You're not telling us about how rough it is, because I didn't know that until I knew a Canadian water polo player who told me about Aussies in particular who are very rough.
Sarah Maxwell:Um, and bathing suits get ripped and lots of things happen. So tell us a little bit about how feisty you have to be yeah, look she doesn't want to tell this it's a lot of drowning there's it's.
Tenealle Fasala:It's a non-contact sport, apparently.
Nat Cook :He comes home with scratches I know I didn't know this, taniel doesn't talk about it.
Sarah Maxwell:Is it like the unwritten?
Tenealle Fasala:nobody says it rule it's one of those things where, like in every other sport, you have a ref that's there and they can see everything. In water polo, you have water that covers literally half of your body and you can't see anything under the water, and they don't have cameras under the water. So whatever happens under the water stays under the water. Anything can go. So, if you like, one of the first things we're told is to keep your head up out of the water, because if you put your head in the water and you get hit, it doesn't matter, because no one can see it do you guys have special bathing suits or something, so that they don't get ripped?
Tenealle Fasala:did I hear that yeah yeah, there's the we don't have, like the thin straps we have zip up backs with like thick material my goodness, I have so many.
Sarah Maxwell:I have questions that I'm like, oh, I'm not sure you're allowed to talk about this on the podcast, but there's a um, what do you call it?
Mum Rickie:a. There's a YouTube American, I think it was, or Spanish player, where they go into a full explanation of what water polo is, and it's actually a common. She does it beautifully. It's a combination of like seven sports. Yeah, yeah.
Sarah Maxwell:Right Interesting.
Mum Rickie:You know, for people to understand, and when you listen to that, it's just you just go wow, how do they even keep their heads above water?
Sarah Maxwell:Yeah, and that's, that's a good point because you know, for example, you quickly said, oh yeah, I know how to tread water, but I've seen how high out of the water you can get to shoot and I'm like that skill set to throw without legs, you know it's. It's incredible really, and I think sometimes when we watch a sport we don't actually understand its difficulty of, especially when it's played at such a high level. I always thought we should have like one screen where you have someone like me playing water polo and then to kneel, so then you see how awesome she is because you go wow, this is what it could look like well it's like beach volleyball.
Sarah Maxwell:You could come out and like fall around on the sand a little bit okay. Yeah, it's a little harder than it looks okay yeah, well, I remember my sister had finished swimming.
Tenealle Fasala:She was done but she wanted to still, like, do something active and she joined water polo for like social, and she was in my team at the time and I remember her first session. She was absolutely dying. Her calves were cramping up, she couldn't stay afloat and she was like this is actually cooked, and she had played in primary school before. Like the same as me, which is you like, stand on the ground. She was like this is actually cooked, and she had played in primary school before. Like the same as me, which is you like, stand on the ground. She was like, yeah, that's fine, I can do it. And I was like no, you don't understand. And we were literally 10 minutes into the session. We'd done five minutes of swimming and she was like, oh, this is easy. And then we got to the five minutes of legs. She was at the back, she just couldn't keep up it.
Sarah Maxwell:It's a good like I. I have to say that, being a leg dominant athlete myself, watching water polo women's legs, it's amazing really, Cause it's just such a strong body type that you see, and yeah, it's just awesome at the Olympics to watch that. Yeah, it's awesome. Okay, so, thank you. You.
Sarah Maxwell:Let me go rogue for a bit on water polo, because I, I know I'm I'm thinking I'm not the only one that didn't know about how vicious it is under the water, um, and I didn't know that that there's no ref ref seeing that, and that's why it can happen. So here's the thing to neil you discover water polo at 11 and my impression is you sort of went from strength to strength. So you'll have to correct me if that's not how it felt for you, but it looked like you just kept advancing in the ranks and you were just like, yeah, like a duck to water, you just were a natural. And then, when you get let go from the Tokyo Olympic team, I feel that that would have hit you even harder because in a way, you hadn't really met much, seemingly much, disappointment. So, firstly, how do you deal with that kind of disappointment and how did it then fuel you for the next four years. Like how long did that pivot take?
Tenealle Fasala:I think for me, the Tokyo cycle it was like a totally different to the cycle that I've just been through. Um, I, as you said, I went from strength to strength. I was making teams and there was so many teams that I was like I didn't even realize that I could have done that. And I did it and I was so proud of myself and I knew I'd put in the work. But I was just like on a high, as you were saying. And then the Tokyo the Stinger squad had been selected prior to COVID and I wasn't in that, but a few of my friends were in that, so I was rooting them on. I was so happy for them.
Tenealle Fasala:And then COVID happened. We went into lockdown and they decided to increase the squad and they decided to join more players into the squad and I remember it was, I was in the living room. I had gotten a message from the head coach being like oh, can I call you? And I was like, oh, this is really random. And I got that call and I was like in complete shock because I was.
Tenealle Fasala:It was was one of those moments, as I said, where I was like I didn't even know I was in the radar, in like their scope for this cycle. I knew that next cycle was definitely a possibility and something I wanted to strive to, but I didn't think that that close to the games they could have added and extended their squad. So then I got added to the squad and I was just like a sponge. I was soaking everything up and I think for that cycle I was kind of in the mindset that I was never going to make the team and it kind of felt like that from the coaches. It was I'd go into meetings and there were so many things that wasn't good enough about me and they were like we see you in the future, you need to get better at this, you need to get better at that. So those meetings were really hard to be a part of. And I think that was the hardest thing about that cycle was I was in the camp, for I was in the squad for probably six months prior to the games and of three of those months I was in training with the stingers and I'd have a meeting every month and I would improve every single month in my swimming times, my gym, everything I was improving and every time I got into those meetings it was you're still not good enough.
Tenealle Fasala:You're not hitting these targets that we want you to. So I think those discussions kind of gave me an insight that I'm not going to make this team because I'm not hitting their targets. So when I got the call saying that I hadn't, like I won't be progressing into the next part of the like squad I, it wasn't so much like devastating, it was more so okay, this is like my time, I'm done now, but I have these things that I need to work on. So I know what I need to do, because I'm getting told my swimming is not fast enough and I'm getting told that my defense needs to get better. So I had things to look forward to, if that makes sense, and I think, because I was brought in so young, it was just such an exciting thing and getting to learn to play with these players who literally just took me under the wing and were like helping me out everywhere. Like the amount of feedback I'd get in one session was ridiculous, but I loved it.
Sarah Maxwell:Yeah, I'm getting more of a picture of it because I think in sport there's a lot expectation as a really interesting beast and when you're young and everything is a surprise and it's exciting and unexpected, it's easier in a way. And we're about to ask. I want to ask from Alex's perspective for this one for some reason, just to know a different view, because I'm sure the expectation was quite different leading into this cycle, going into Paris. After, like you said, you were working on all your stuff, you were determined, you were getting better and in a way you were, I sense from what you said you were like a potential player. You always had the. You know, you've got the talent, you've got so much potential and now it was like so now Alex, who's been very patient, we've learned that Alex is a data analyst and for some reason that makes him patient.
Sarah Maxwell:I've just decided, and we've also learned before recording, that Alex loves school, so he knows how to listen and I'm making it all up. But, alex, with your observation skills on and being in relationship with Tennille over this last cycle, um, what did you see when she was chosen to train with the Paris squad? She, you know, she was excited and like what did you see when she didn't make the team and that she was put on the reserve team and I'm not sure if I'm using the right language so you can correct that, if I'm sort of making assumptions what did you see going on for her?
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):Yeah, well, to say it was unexpected would probably be a lie, because we'd had kind of science leading up to that point. Um, at her stingers camp, like in the lead up, she was playing amazing, like you know, whenever she got opportunities she'd be great, like stand out, and she was very clearly like in the top three of the centre forwards on the team. And they had a few different comps leading up to, like, the selection. So they had, like, the world champs which they had a team go to. But then they had a trip to the USA and Tenille wasn't selected for that trip to the USA and they instead brought in like another girl which, like, was clearly, in my opinion, not even close to Tennille's level. But I don't know the reasoning behind that. But yeah, that was like the first kind of signal that they're like oh, we're going in a different direction in terms of playing style. So then they had that and then they had another trip after that, I think. Am I right? Is there another trip after that, or was that?
Tenealle Fasala:no, that was the, that was the one, yeah yeah so.
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):So then they back went back into the camps and whatnot. And I was, you know, talking to Danielle every day about the vibes, um, and about, like, the selection process and whatnot, and just we were getting vibes that they were heading towards a different direction in terms of the playing style. Because you know immediately, like that previous year they changed coaches and with the previous coach it was a totally different you know style and new coach comes in. Sunil's been getting some feedback. Oh, we want you to play this way rather than this way, and and it wasn't necessarily playing towards like playing the way that to neil had experience with so what year, alex, did the new coach come in the last?
Luke Morrison:olympic 23, 24, 24, the same year the same.
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):No, it was 23 it was like december 23 oh december 23.
Sarah Maxwell:Yeah, like we think like six, not even like six months before the 11th.
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):Yeah, yeah yeah, so it was just yeah, lots of like it was somewhat chaotic, I'd say um wow and like, yeah, the way that it was, yeah, turned around and whatnot. Um, so, yeah, like we, we kind of did expect it in a way, like to know um she's. When we're talking she's like look, I, yeah, I don't really expect to be picked. Um, like, I have high hopes to be picked, but to keep, I'll keep my hopes down lower so that I'm not completely depressed um once I don't get picked.
Sarah Maxwell:So, yeah, that's the mental game, isn't it to Neil like, yeah and yeah, okay, I have a couple things I want to interplay between you and Alex here, because is it weird to Neil when you hear someone else talking about it, talking about your journey, or you're used to it?
Tenealle Fasala:no, oh, he talks to me all the time like this and I'm very I'm not a type of person that likes to talk about myself very often. So when we're in group settings and someone's asked me about water polo, I'll probably give them a very shallow answer which I think is pretty in depth. But then alex goes and then goes on, and then I hear him speaking. I'm like, oh yeah, I forgot about that and I forgot about that. She undersells herself a lot.
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):Got it Especially around friends she doesn't like to. She can market you.
Sarah Maxwell:She can't market herself. Yeah, okay on this, though. So the writing was on the wall Like things were a bit chaotic. You could feel things were not stable. Yeah, you could feel things were not stable. Yeah, did you feel the so to kneel on for that for you? Were you feeling the pressure like did, or were you trying to manage your own? It sounds like you're trying to manage your own inner expectations.
Tenealle Fasala:I think, like, as Alex said, there was things prior happening that gave me like the realization that, oh, this probably isn't going to be me. And the one of the other ones was Doha. So when we went to Doha for world champs at the start of the year it was in February um, there were three center forwards there and I think I played two games out of the six and in those two games I probably touched the water for four minutes. So I that was the first one that I was like okay. So I've been selected for every single international competition up until this point and every single time I've been getting I wouldn't say the most amount of time in the water, but I've been getting more than this. And now this is happening and we're four months out from the Olympics and this other center forward is getting played over me. Um, were you mad? I was.
Tenealle Fasala:I was very like when I got told about like as a center forward.
Tenealle Fasala:When there's three center forwards there, you just know that one's going to get set out like.
Tenealle Fasala:No team really plays with three center forwards and if they do, it's because they want to play a very like like the center backs are really good, so they want to give the minutes shorter so that you're like very strong in the water and you don't have to tire out so quickly, so that we hardly ever play like that.
Tenealle Fasala:I've like probably played one game like that. So when, like it was a back to back, when you get sat out the first game, you're like okay, I knew this was happening, there was always going to be one. And then when you get sat out the next game immediately after, you're like oh shit, like I'm not playing again, like that's normally. You'd like rotate. And then when I got sat out the third time, I was like completely distraught. I was like it was one of those tipping moments in my head that I was like I was trying to deny it, trying to like mask it, be like no, I'm okay. And then it just hits you all at once and you're like no, I'm genuinely not seen as what I think I'm seen as and it's like hard to accept it because, especially because it feels like from one day the next there was a big shift.
Sarah Maxwell:Yeah, and how do you digest? How do you so? Firstly, did you call Alex when you, when you were like, when you realized what was happening, did you say was there a conversation? Like it's happening, buddy, like they're doing this, it's, I'm out.
Tenealle Fasala:Well, that's that's. The other thing is you're in a different time zone. So often we'd get told and Alex is literally asleep. So I'd be like messaging him, telling him what's happening, and then, like, like often, my messages would be like, yeah, so I'm not playing again tomorrow, and then it would be like a photo of me completely bawling my eyes out. So it's like one of those ones where you get told the night before the game and if you're not playing, you kind of just go to bed crying and then you wake up and you're like hey, well, I'm not playing, but I need to be here for the team now. They don't need to be brought down by whatever I'm feeling. So whatever's happening just needs to be, like, pushed to the side until after. So it's one of those type of situations and I can hear that in you.
Sarah Maxwell:Like you know, and like you say, a lot of those big moments you're sort of on your own because everyone's sleeping back home, yeah, and sometimes it's really hard with your teammates, especially if they're in your spots, and it's kind of hard how to navigate those conversations. So when you realize, or when you're told that you're not making the official team, so that's that real evidence. Like you know, you're hearing it straight up. But then was it actually in the same conversation when you were asked to be a reserve?
Tenealle Fasala:a reserve I. So we got told on the 7th of May that like whether you made the team or not, that conversation for me wasn't as devastating like I had in my head that I'm not going to be making this team, like I had already known that and that was because when we were in camp and the USA tour team got announced, I was like if I don't make this team, like I thought I was going, and then the team gets announced and I'm not in the squad list, and that moment for me, like I completely broke down and that was in Canberra. It was like broke down and that was in Canberra. It was like there's no way you're not taking a potential Olympic athlete to the one tour prior to the games to play the best team in the world at that point. So I was like that was kind of for me. That was the moment that I got dropped in my head.
Tenealle Fasala:So anything after that I still worked my butt off because they said you're not dropped from the team. This doesn't mean anything about the team. So obviously I still worked hard and I came back to Queensland. I was doing everything I could. So when I got told on the 7th that I wasn't in the team. It was kind of like, okay now, if I don't make, if they don't pick me as a reserve, I was like now I'm going to be pissed, like that was the mindset I was in I see Okay, got it.
Tenealle Fasala:It was like when the the call for reserves was about three days later, so we had about three days of time to be told. We had about three days of time to be told. So when I got the call and I was asked to be reserved, it was kind of like a relief, like, okay, so I'm still where I was sitting prior, like I'm not, like the USA tour made me think, oh my God, they think I'm way worse than what I am. Does that make sense? I do get it because it's like this picking a picking order, thing You're like okay, I'm not in that number of athletes.
Sarah Maxwell:So how many do they take to the games? How many athletes do they take? Thirteen, thirteen, and then how many reserve?
Tenealle Fasala:Sorry, there's three One goalie and then two field players got it.
Sarah Maxwell:Yeah, so you're just like on that, just on that fringe. Yes, you did, you train with the team and so how, how do you keep your spirits up when you're doing all that with, like you say, you're not with family, you're disappointed, um, financially it's. You know you're slugging it out. So how do you do that?
Tenealle Fasala:mental, emotional, I think that was the hardest thing about being the reserve was no matter. Like when you say yes to being a reserve, you're no longer there for yourself, you're there for the team. So whatever the team needs, you just need to do that.
Tenealle Fasala:So for me, it was one of the hardest situations when, like, we'd go into a meeting and they're talking all things the olympics oh my god, this is so exciting and I'm literally trying to make myself not cry and I'm sitting there like trying to ignore what's happening, and then meeting ends and I have to walk out and I'm like in tears, but I don't want to do that in front of everyone because this is such an exciting time for them, like if I was in that team I would be so happy. This is what I'm like, excited, this is what I've been dreaming of. And then you see someone who hasn't made it in the meeting and they're crying. Like that's not the type of person I want to be, so like whatever was going on inside of me it was. I need to push this aside and I can feel whatever emotions I can feel when I'm by myself and I'm with my support group, but right now I don't want to be bringing down the team.
Sarah Maxwell:You're such a sacrifice person, I can feel like mom. Has she always been like this, or is this something she's had to develop to survive this?
Mum Rickie:I just we've always brought up our kids to be to look at the positive on everything and, like I, was brought up by my dad that what happened yesterday happened yesterday, today's another day, and I sort of brought that through as well. So you know, if something happens, 30 seconds get over it, you know. But in today's age it's not like that anymore, if you understand how it is. So Tennille's been she holds everything inside. Yeah, yeah, she'll hold everything inside, but rock solid, as loyal as and um, but will stand up for herself. If she doesn't think something's right, she'll say something, even if it's detrimental to her, to herself. You know, to back somebody or something like that, yeah, so and to neil.
Sarah Maxwell:You might not be able to answer this, but to this day, do you really know what happened? Do you know why you didn't get chosen um?
Tenealle Fasala:look, it's not, I'll be able to say it all.
Sarah Maxwell:I know I get it there's no.
Tenealle Fasala:No, it's one of those things where, like with any sport, you'll have coaches who like a certain player's style and the way they play more than the other, and at the end of the day, it's the coach's team and who they truly believe will get the result. So it's one of those things where, like, yes, I've got things to work on and I got that feedback, but at the end of the day, it was Style choice. It's literally style choice and how the game's going and how they want to play, and you probably won't.
Sarah Maxwell:Maybe I'm going to ask Alex. Okay, this will help Alex. Is it like a knife to the heart when the team does so well? But Tennille would never admit it.
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):I 100%. Yeah, I agree. I think that's how Tennille feels she would. Yeah, she wouldn't admit it, but um, it's hard because totally they won.
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):Like most of those games on penalties, um, which can go either way, it's like a 50-50 chance um all the time. So it's definitely hard when you see the team that's hit like fourth, fifth, fifth, sixth place at every previous BME and then going to the Olympics and suddenly getting the silver. But it was completely unexpected and you were the one that misses out on that. I know, yeah, journey, so just. But that's border poly, anything can happen. You know, like that could be in gold.
Sarah Maxwell:Brutal for you to Neil, to be honest, because you are knowing your personality. You're going to always support your team. Be that better person. I was about to make a comparison, like Michelle Obama going into giving the White House over to the next person who shall remain nameless. How you just be like when they go low, I go high, you know, and it's really difficult. Um, I can hear the weight of it and I'm I want people to know that because I feel like sometimes I think people don't really understand the kind of fortitude that is required to keep going, like you still are going to LA 20, like you have goals, you're still going.
Tenealle Fasala:I mean, other people would have just crumbled yeah, I think the the metal part was really hard, like I didn't watch a single game, alex was only watching like score updates so like I would know there's a game playing and then it was every day was different. Like sometimes he would say the score to me and I'd absolutely rip his head off. I'd be like, why are you telling me this? And then the next day I'm like, hey, what's the score?
Sarah Maxwell:like I kind of want to know like this is unwinnable in my relationship, literally.
Tenealle Fasala:And then, like we, the game will start off not going in their favor and I'd be really happy, I'd be like, yeah, told you should have brought me. And then then they end up winning and I'm like, oh well, that's a bit annoying, isn't it? And then I don't know, like when they did get the medal and when I found that out it was I was I remember we were in like London and I was like completely upset, like the whole day. I was like completely drawn emotional, everything. But then, like in the moment, you're mad, frustrated, and then later on you're like, literally some of my closest friends are in that team and all I want for them is the best. So, like, although I can't message every single one of them and be happy for every single one of them, they're're still my family.
Tenealle Fasala:So I'm like so happy for all of them. It's like brutal.
Sarah Maxwell:It's like the therapist in me has got some thoughts. You know, just like you have to separate your value, like your quality of play and being chosen to that result. But it's really you're human right, so I would have felt all the same, oh my God. Anyway, I can relate a lot to your story. Um, and just to add to that, alex, describe some of the financial sacrifices and all this, because you know we're talking about the emotional, mental, emotional. But like what is she giving up? Like from a money point of view?
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):oh well, we have a shared amex account now and um it is, yeah, over 60 percent to neil, I know I was gonna say this is a losing initiative for you.
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):But it's definitely tough when she you know she doesn't work for six months, nine months, whatever it is, um, but we're like, just naturally, we're quite frugal and we're quite like happy in being frugal in our own way. Like we have tuna and rice every day for lunch, we have meal prep every night for dinner, dinner, breakfast. So our two meals are like meal prep, every single meal, and, like other people, get bored, but we're actually quite content with our meals, like we make nice meals.
Mum Rickie:They are nice meals but I get bored. But we're actually quite content with our meals like we make nice meals.
Sarah Maxwell:They are nice meals, but I get bored.
Mum Rickie:Mom doesn't like the tuna and rice, but you gotta yeah, you gotta understand water polo is in the junior ranks. You pay for everything. So, for instance, tanil made the junior world championships a team team and we had to have a big think about Tennille. Straightaway said no, mum, it's too much, because you're talking about $8,000 to $10,000 to send them away for that. And it was actually her older brother that said no, she's got to go. So we did a whole heap of things like GoFundMe and had things sticking up at the pool saying you know support. And I was just really lucky. I worked for my boss, shelley Duyea, who came in and basically said how much have you raised? And I said not enough because you had to have a certain amount by the time you went and she put into the GoFundMe the full lot and I just paid it back over the next four years. But you know that's what it's like. But once you get to seniors it's a little bit better.
Sarah Maxwell:Thank you for sharing that, mum, because, like you say, the time that costs the most is say there's the time when you that cost the most is when you have the least. You know, like that, that gap. It's like are you good enough to make the bigger team, to get the money?
Mum Rickie:and like you said yeah, four years paying that off.
Sarah Maxwell:Yeah, it's not magical, like. And so, alex, when did the Aussie Athlete Fund come into play? Like, where did that sit? Did you have two cans of tuna on rice once that came in, or how did it impact?
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):I think the Aussie Athlete Funds actually provided so many opportunities for Tennille with various like coaching, like gigs that she's, you know, started up, that she's, you know, started up that she didn't have access to before. She's, you know, networked with all these people that she hadn't met before and she's gotten all these different opportunities, like now she's got a sponsorship with the Bullets, like the Brisbane Bullets NBL team, which has been like amazing because she got got, uh, like supplements, um, which and supplements are expensive so even just that's supplement tuna I mean yeah, exactly all our protein from the tuna yeah, that's how quiet she keeps everything to herself.
Sarah Maxwell:That's the first I knew of it oh, mom didn't even know about the bullets coming in, but I didn't know where they were coming from. Oh, the stuff mom's been taking your supplements. Hide them, hide them. Yeah, I got it.
Alex White (Tenealle's BF):So it's like the connections, the networking, yeah, yeah, it was like opportunities, okay, yeah and then you know they can provide, uh, you know the funds into aussie athlete fund, like her, her page, um, and yeah, like she's got little cards that she hands out these networking events. It's great, yeah, just that extra money Awesome so, tennille, we alluded to it.
Sarah Maxwell:But what vision do you now have for LA, because you know 2028, so what are we? 2025? So three years? What do you do with all? Okay, so we know, now that you've been, we've smushed it all down down deep, um, so what are you doing with all of that fuel? Like, what are you visioning now? What's your kind of um mindset these days?
Tenealle Fasala:I think, like it took me a while to get motivated. Um, I even had like conversations with our coach and I was just like I just need a break, because last time I went straight into it, I did four years and then by the end I just got like burnt out. I was like, what am I doing with my life? Um, but yeah, I just think my mindset has shifted in the fact that I'm kind of like I just don't really care anymore, like that's how I try and go into it.
Tenealle Fasala:Like last time I held so much care that I didn't want to make mistakes. I didn't want to. I was scared to do things. But this time I'm just like, oh well, I do it, I get yelled at. I don't do it, I get yelled at. So like, either way, I might as well try and fail, instead of just being like scared to fail and then getting to the end and being like, oh, I wish I did that type of thing. So I think it's just like head down, bum up, just doing all the things, um, that I can do. But yeah, I think like you're turned rebellious.
Sarah Maxwell:They won't know what to do.
Luke Morrison:They'll be like where did the loyal?
Sarah Maxwell:do you know, I have to say that when you were sharing the story, and I'm not sure I got it right. But sometimes I wonder if someone like you, who's really agreeable and you always do what everybody wants of you, you become the perfect reserve because you're like, oh, tenille's gonna be okay. You know, it's interesting how we're taught to do the right thing, but it can sometimes bite us yeah, a little and so it's interesting hearing you find your well.
Sarah Maxwell:mom said you stand up for what you believe in. It's not that you're a pushover. It's almost like there's this moment where you go. Everything that I thought I was supposed to do to make it didn't work. Actually, that didn't make it for me. So who am I going to be if I want this dream Like? Who do I have to become? And sometimes answers are really hard because you don't know how to be that person. You've never been the rebel, yeah, like. Oh, what does to Neil the rebel look like? So I'm hearing it. It's like coming out, yeah.
Tenealle Fasala:I think one of the last. Like last cycle, I got feedback. Well, I didn't even get feedback. I heard through the grapevine that, like certain coaches, just didn't think I cared or didn't want it, and I was like what I?
Sarah Maxwell:literally it's hard to hear. That, isn't that?
Tenealle Fasala:when you hear that you're like you don't want me to cry at training because it shows weakness, but then, because I'm holding everything in, you're saying that I don't care, I'm like how does that even correlate? Like there's no winning in situations like that. So, with stuff like that, I'm just like that's why I'm like my mindset's shifted, because I'm just like you know what, if nothing's ever good enough, I might as well just be like totally different, or like not even totally different. Like stick to who I am, but just not hold on to as much. Yes, like whatever I'm feeling, I'm feeling, but at the end of the day, like sport is a big part of my life, but it's not who I am, and I think that's what I love about myself yeah, and, and I from someone who's been in it and now out and mom, maybe this is how you feel it's there's this time.
Sarah Maxwell:Someone said this to me while I was playing. I didn't like it at the time, but they're like, you think that this is the biggest moment of your life, but you're gonna realize that this is just preparation for the bigger moments of your life and I was like, oh you don't know, you don't know this, you don't know how big I am right now?
Sarah Maxwell:no, but you know it didn't. It didn't land until you know, 10 years later, 15. And then you start to appreciate all that you're going through. Now I'll just tell you, there's nothing as good a groundwork for sense of self than this. It's so grueling, like nothing else challenges you like this, and so that's why I'm so happy you shared this, because that's what I think we can all do is look at people who are out on the field, out in the pool, like exposing themselves, like you're so vulnerable. You are so vulnerable in what you went for, and most people won't even get in the water because they're too afraid, but you just keep rocking up. I'm so happy that you're able to share when even get in the water because they're too afraid, but you just keep rocking up. I am so happy that you're able to share when you're in the middle of it.
Sarah Maxwell:The journey, like this story, is not over. You know there's even brisbane. You're young, so there's like a lot of years, if you want them, ahead of you. So I really want to thank you all for sharing so much. I mean we could have gone double time because I mean a Alex had to be super patient. Mom had to be patient, but everyone you supported her beautifully and I can tell that she's, you know, got a really strong unit around her and that's probably a big reason why you keep getting up. So thank you. Thank you so much for this chat.
Tenealle Fasala:Yes, thank you, and thank you for having us, of course.
Nat Cook :Thank you for joining us on another episode of the Price you Pay podcast. We hope we've inspired you with the insider's look of the challenges faced by our aspiring athletes, the highs and lows of playing sports at such an elite level and what's possible when you're so devoted to your craft. It's our mission at the Aussie Athlete Fund to create a sustainable funding model to support our athletes for both their financial wellbeing and education for their own athlete economy. To be part of the journey, please visit our website at wwwaussieathletefundcom and choose how you would like to be involved, whether that's as a corporate partner, teaming up with an athlete in the Million Dollar Challenge or hosting your very own event to help raise funds. Choose your own adventure.
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