Abby Andrews (2017)
Stinger in the tale of Olympiacos
Water polo ace Abby Andrews has fallen in love with Athens, and the feeling is no doubt mutual after she helped her Piraeus-based team Olympiacos to European glory in June, with an inspired individual performance.
The Grammar Woman was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the Champions’ League Final Four in Malta, a contest that pits Europe’s top water polo teams against each other.
Abby drilled home five goals in the final and four in the semi-final to help Olympiacos clinch the title and earn the MVP crown, an honour she said eclipsed winning Silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics with the Aussie Stingers.
`Lifting the Cup and knowing that I was personally able to contribute was a huge honour,’ she said. `I have never actually won anything of that magnitude. The celebrations and the media around the event made it feel so special and really put women’s water polo on the map.’
Abby was named MVP from among the world's best at the European Championships in June Photo: Abby Bonello
It was a new career highpoint for the Olympic Silver medallist Photo: Abby Bonello
Always grounded and grateful, Abby name-checked Girls Grammar in the wake of the international success and made time to share an update with the BGGS community when she returned to Australia in July to compete in the 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals in Sydney.
`I say it to a lot of people, but if I didn’t have the opportunities that I had at Girls Grammar, I wouldn’t be where I am today,' she said.
`I am beyond grateful that water polo was one of Girls Grammar’s biggest sports and that my parents pushed me in that direction. I loved netball and swimming growing up and water polo was the perfect hybrid and quickly became my obsession.’
The European win capped off an outstanding season for Abby, her second with the dominant Olympiacos team, based at the port of Piraeus on the southern edge of Athens. It took a while to find her feet when she first moved to the Greek capital in 2024, with Abby admitting: `It was definitely a steep learning curve, and I had some big moments of doubt.’
But in her second season, she has shone, reflecting an irrepressible happiness both in and out of the pool.
`I think I have fallen completely in love with Athens,’ Abby said. `Being near the sea has been huge for my mental health—I love the colours of the Mediterranean Sea—and the freshness of the Greek food is one of my favourite things. I would love to become a Greek citizen.’
Abby on the iconic Greek island of Mykonos
Abby will return to Athens later this year, having signed on for a third season with her beloved Olympiacos, but thankfully her international playing allegiance remains with the Green and Gold.
She expects to be back in Australia to prepare for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and has an eye on Brisbane 2032.
`I’m definitely hopeful that my body and mind are still yearning to play as the home Olympics would be unforgettable. I can’t wait to see Brisbane develop.’
A fourth Olympics is definitely within reach for Abby. She made her Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2020 at just 19, becoming the third-youngest woman to represent Australia in water polo at the Olympics.
Throughout her playing career, Abby has juggled demanding sport and academic schedules, excelling at School and going on to complete a Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (BAFE) at UQ while competing internationally.
`I was a very motivated student at Girls Grammar. I loved Physics and Maths C. BAFE definitely challenged me, with my intense training and competition schedule, but I was so happy to have persevered and to graduate after Paris.’
Abby says the time management she learned at Girls Grammar has continued to serve her well in life, and she remains grateful for the guidance, drive and friendships she forged at School.
In particular, she remembers water polo trials, saying: `I met my best friend at those trials and we’re still best friends 15 years later.’
In 2024 Abby returned to Girls Grammar, alongside Olympic teammate and fellow Grammar Woman Gabi Palm (2015) to share her Olympic journey at a special assembly.'
`Girls Grammar sparked my interest in water polo and pushed me academically. I learned a lot about myself and my ambitions because of this School, so I love being able to give back and share my wisdom and alternate paths to the younger girls coming through to show that there are so many directions you can go after School.’
Abby during her Girls Grammar days
In 2024, Abby returned to the School with fellow BGGS alumna Gabi Palm (2015) to share the story of their journey to Olympic Silver in Paris