Lea Yanitsas facts for kids

Lea Yanitsas (born 15 March 1989) is an amazing Australian water polo player. She is a goalkeeper, which means she protects her team's goal. Lea has represented Australia in many big competitions.

She was a key part of the Australian team at the World Aquatics Championships in 2015, 2017, and 2019. Lea also played for the Australian Stingrays team at the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Lea Yanitsas: Water Polo Star

Lea Yanitsas started her senior water polo career in 2007. She quickly became a top player for Australia. In 2010, she helped her team win a silver medal at the World Cup in Christchurch.

Her Amazing Water Polo Journey

Lea has competed in many World Championships. She was part of the Australian team that won a silver medal in Barcelona in 2013. She also played in the championships held in Kazan in 2015 and Gwangju in 2019. In 2019, her team earned a bronze medal.

Lea was also a co-captain for her club team, Sydney Uni. They became National League Champions in 2016. This shows her great leadership skills!

Playing at the Olympics

Lea represented Australia at two Olympic Games. She was part of the Australian Stingrays team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She also played at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (which happened in 2021). In Tokyo, the Aussie Stingers made it to the quarterfinals. They played a tough game but did not advance to the medal rounds.

Life Outside the Pool

Lea Yanitsas grew up in Sydney, Australia, specifically on the Northern Beaches. Her mother is from New Zealand, and her father is from the Czech Republic. Lea is married to Andrew Yanitsas, who she met through water polo. They have one son together.