Water Polo Australia capped off a historic home World Cup with its Gala Dinner, held at Accor Stadium tonight, after the curtain came down on the 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
The evening brought together players, coaches, officials and supporters to celebrate a milestone campaign for the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks and Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers, induct two of the sport’s greatest ever teams into the Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame, and recognise the athletes and staff who defined the year across the High Performance Awards.
Competing in front of home crowds, the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers secured a bronze medal, while the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks fought their way to a fourth-place finish.
The night also saw two of Australian water polo’s most celebrated teams formally inducted into the Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame. First honoured was the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games gold medal-winning women’s team, the side that delivered one of the defining moments in Australian Olympic history when they claimed gold on home soil in front of a sold-out crowd.
Alongside them, the 1986 World Championships gold medal-winning women’s team was recognised for their trailblazing achievement in securing Australia’s first world title.
Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers Captain Bronte Halligan took home the prestigious Win Well Award which recognises the individual who best embodies the vision of the WPA Cultural Blueprint: to win well, when it matters, and inspire Australians. It also acknowledges an athlete who makes meaningful contributions to our programs and consistently lives the Win Well philosophy through their day-to-day behaviours.
Tilly Kearns was named Senior Female of the Year, while Jacob Mercep claimed the Senior Male of the Year honour.
The WPA Gala Dinner also celebrated individual achievement across the year, beginning with a string of milestone celebrations. Gen Longman, Abby Andrews, Alice Williams and Nic Porter were each recognised for reaching 100 games, Blake Edwards and Tim Putt celebrated 150 game milestones, while Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers and Aussie Sharks captains Bronte Halligan and Nathan Power was celebrated for an extraordinary 200 and 250 games, respectively, in the green and gold.
Daniel Bartels was named Official of the Year, and Dean Semmens was awarded Performance Coach of the Year.
