Dual-code international and two-time Olympic gold medallist

Overview

Tyla King (Nathan-Wong) is one of New Zealand's most decorated wāhine athletes — Olympic gold medallist at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, silver at Rio 2016, two-time Rugby World Cup Sevens winner, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year 2023, and the all-time leading points scorer in the women's HSBC SVNS Series. After retiring from sevens at Paris she switched codes to rugby league with the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Kiwi Ferns.

Who is Tyla King? Born in Auckland on 1 July 1994 (Ngāpuhi, Chinese, Pākehā), Tyla attended Lynfield College and represented NZ in touch, tag, sevens, fifteens and rugby league. She made her Black Ferns Sevens debut at age 18 in 2012 and went on to a 13-year career, captaining the team on multiple occasions and winning seven World Series titles. She married waka ama world champion Tupuria King in 2024. In May 2023 she signed with the Dragons and has since helped the Kiwi Ferns beat Australia for the first time in seven years.

Career Highlights • Olympic gold medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024; silver at Rio 2016 • World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year 2023 • Two-time Rugby World Cup Sevens winner (2013, 2018) • Commonwealth Games gold (2018) and bronze (2022) • Seven World Series titles with the Black Ferns Sevens • All-time leading points scorer and goal kicker, HSBC SVNS women's series (589+ goals)

Key Speaking Themes • Excellence and longevity — 13 years at the top • Goal kicking and the power of mastering basics • Identity and whakapapa — Ngāpuhi, Chinese and Pākehā heritage • Reinvention and switching codes • Team culture and being a small player with big impact

What Your Audience Will Gain Tyla is articulate, exuberant and refreshingly humble. Audiences leave with a clear picture of what mastering basics looks like at the very top — and a memorable story of identity, family and the chase for excellence across multiple sports.

Ideal For • Women in business and women in sport events • Sales kick-offs and corporate offsites • Schools and youth leadership programmes • Awards nights and gala dinners • Pacific business, community and Te Ao Māori events

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Tyla King speak about? Excellence, longevity, mastering the basics, reinvention, identity and team culture.

What Olympic medals has Tyla King won? Gold at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, plus silver at Rio 2016 with the Black Ferns Sevens.

Is Tyla King the same person as Tyla Nathan-Wong? Yes. She married waka ama world champion Tupuria King in 2024 and now plays under the name King.

What records does Tyla King hold? The all-time points record in the HSBC SVNS women's series, including 589+ goals as the series' premier goal kicker.

What is Tyla King doing now? Playing rugby league for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRLW and for the Kiwi Ferns.

Is Tyla King available for keynotes and panels? Yes. Tyla is in demand for corporate, school and women in sport audiences across NZ and Australia.