My motto is that there’s no substitute for hard work. When parents, clubs and girls catch on to this, it drives change and brings a lot of good things to the table.

Stephanie Tanti Desjardins’ entry into water polo was slightly unconventional. Originally a handball player, her first taste of water polo came after a friend suggested a way for Stephanie to stay active during handball’s off-season. Despite not being a strong swimmer initially, she showed goalkeeping potential which was recognised by the coach. A spark had been ignited…Stephanie soon found herself trading the dry handball court for the water polo pool. This unexpected beginning sparked a passion that has only grown stronger with time and “the rest is history,” as she reflects.

I had the recent pleasure of talking to Stephanie about her journey and the strides she and San Giljan Aquatic Sports Club are making to grow women’s water polo in Malta.

1.  Who inspires you today, both in water polo and beyond?
I’m inspired by overseas female water polo players who balance motherhood with competing at club and Olympic level. Women with a strong work ethic light a fire in me to get up and work harder.

2. What are some of the biggest achievements you and your team have had in recent years?
Winning the Knockout in 2022 stands out along with San Giljan Aquatic Sports Club’s current project: working on building the girls water polo nursery (7-13 years) which is coming along really well.

3. How do you balance training, competitions, parenthood and advocating for water polo’s development while also maintaining your love for the game and preventing burnout?
Good question. It is not easy! When my son turned 6 weeks, I was cleared to get back in the water with my team and within four months, I was back in the national team squad. It wasn’t easy but it wasn’t impossible, thanks to my husband who is my support system. And just having understanding people around me is key to avoiding the overwhelm of managing everything with a young child.

4. Do you think women bring unique qualities to water polo that aren’t always recognised – and how can female strengths help push the sport forward in Malta?
Women do bring a certain passion to the game and yes, it is not always recognised. Women’s water polo is quite new in Malta so people need to understand the ‘positive story’ behind less positive national team results. We have determined female players eager to learn and progress in a short space of time. Thank goodness the sport has evolved since I started playing. 

5. What do you think are the most important steps to ensure that women’s water polo gets crucial grassroots, community and club support?
Schools need to introduce water sports into their curriculum by partnering with water polo clubs and the Sport Malta council to give girls a proper chance to engage with this sport. This is one of my current projects: in October we’ll have five days of morning sessions where over 350 students from two different schools will try water polo out during school hours.

6. What role can media, businesses and local institutions play in ensuring more people see, appreciate and support women’s water polo?
Media plays a big role. Recently the ladies U19 national team competed overseas and nothing was shown on TV whereas the U19 boys received full coverage. This inequality needs to be addressed –  and asap. We’re also seeking sponsorship from local businesses to support the team because financial backing is instrumental in making everything work.

7. Please tell us about the vision behind San Giljan ASC’s three-year plan to compete at an international level (and what it could/would mean for women’s water polo in Malta)?
“We’re investing significant time and effort on building the team from nursery to senior level. When a club shows commitment to player development, it generates interest from other clubs and players. Our players share our vision and work harder (and this helps attract international players). Of course, women’s water polo first has to reach a high enough level to properly compete internationally – and not simply compete for the sake of participating. This is a collective effort, with the players, coach, and club all working together to make this dream a reality.”

8. Apart from this 3 year plan, how else is San Giljan ASC contributing to the advancement of senior women’s water polo – and inspiring young girls to take up water polo?
“Some of our senior team players have started coaching within the newly founded nursery, inspiring the next generation of players. When youngsters have role models to look up to, this automatically instils a work ethic and ambition to follow in their footsteps.”

9. What has been the response from your nursery younger players and how do you see their involvement shaping the future of women’s water polo in Malta?
“This summer we took to the San Giljan Festa, distributing flyers offering a month of free water polo sessions for girls and ran a social media initiative that attracted 20 sign-ups for September. The newcomers loved the sessions, resulting in 13 confirmed registrations at the nursery level. It  demonstrated the importance of embracing opportunities to reach out to the community. I’m really proud of the campaign and the women who helped from the start.”

10. How do you strike a balance between encouraging a competitive spirit within water polo beginners and ensuring the sport remains fun for these young girls?
“Making sessions enjoyable is key. Our coach Marko Martinic creates a fun, positive atmosphere while also instilling discipline and order. Kids respect structure more than we think, but they also want to enjoy the sport. It’s vital to their continued enjoyment of the sport.”

11. San Giljan ASC actively fosters a sense of ownership and pride among players of all ages. Have you noticed this culture’s positive impact on player development and club success?
“There’s definitely a ripple effect. Entrusting part of the team with nursery level coaching has created a sense of belonging and pride in the club. As team manager, I give everyone the space to talk freely and when players are interested in greater responsibility, it shouldn’t be ignored. (We also have two senior level players who play abroad during the winter, providing our young players with aspirations for when they’ve fully developed their skills here in Malta.)”

12. What can local players learn from international players that you’re planning to add to the team?
“Training and playing alongside higher level athletes automatically sharpens your focus and elevates your  game. San Giljan ASC brings in international talent during the summer who share their expertise and teach our players as many tricks of the trade as possible.”

13. How will the club ensure Malta retains the local talent it has nurtured and minimise the loss of talented players to clubs abroad?
Every club needs to focus on developing female players from a young age. Once this strong grassroots setup is established, we won’t find ourselves impacted by players going abroad, moving out of the sport or retiring. Ideally, players will aspire from early on to play abroad, they’ll grow and develop until they reach the point where they’re ready to be sent overseas and meanwhile their club continues to thrive. 

14. There is a lot of talk globally about the value of playing for one’s national team versus what  players actually get paid. What is your perspective on playing for Malta’s national women’s water polo team and what does it mean to represent your country?
It’s every player’s dream to represent their own country. It was mine and I played for Malta with pride but there’s no financial agreement for female water polo players. I believe this needs to change, especially considering the time, energy and risk of injury involved. Players dedicate countless hours to training to represent their country and at senior level, there surely has to be some form of incentive through sponsorship or endorsements. This exists in sport elsewhere so why is it viewed as a shame or dishonour when it comes to Maltese sport?

15. As one of Malta’s key figures in women’s water polo, what motivates you to keep pushing for progress amidst a historically male-dominated sport?
An easy one for me: if a woman doesn’t push for equality, who will? It’s an uphill battle but I continue to strive for this. I speak openly about the inequality and these conversations crucially raise awareness of the issue. It absolutely does need to change!

16. As someone featured in the Wonder Women of Malta series, which celebrates the women working to influence and shape Malta’s future, how do you see your role in changing the narrative around women in sports?
I’m honoured yet humbled to be considered. As a player, I always believed in doing things the right way. Now as team manager and nursery coordinator, I hold a precious key to unlocking the changes I longed for so much as a player. I’m committed to convincing those around me that things have the potential to be different by just being open to some simple changes. I know how I felt about the inequality I experienced firsthand in sport. So my mission is to ensure my players don’t ever have to feel that way. My motto is that there’s no substitute for hard work. When parents, clubs and girls catch on to this, it drives change and brings a lot of good things to the table.

17. The United Nations has chosen “Girls’ vision for the future” as this year’s International Day of the Girl theme. If you could give one piece of advice to a young girl interested in pursuing water polo – or any sport! – in Malta, what would it be?
Have fun, work hard and reach for the stars. Never be ashamed to shine!

The passion and determination Stephanie brings to women’s water polo – supported by her teammates, family, and community – are the constants that keep driving her forward. As a leading advocate for the sport, the San Giljan ASC alumnus has transitioned from saving goals to setting them… Her commitment to raising the next generation of female water polo players in Malta, empowering them to flourish on the local and international stage, firmly establishes her as a Wonder Woman of Malta.