Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Lisa Martin

YOU WONT BELIEVE: How olympians handle the icy onslaught of social abuse - What They Never Told You

Aussie snowboarder Josie Baff plans to take a break from social media at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Outside the pool, Australian water polo all-rounder Tilly Kearns chronicled a steady stream of warm fuzzy moments at the 2024 Paris Olympics - but she also saw social media's dark side.

Her combined TikTok and Instagram audiences, which grew beyond half a million people, delighted in her behind-the-scenes reels - from Pacific islanders singing, impromptu dancing, to a triumphant homecoming at the athletes' village with teammates leaping out of a golf buggy with their silver medals.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.