Matildas sensation Mary Fowler has publicly discussed for the first time how her relationship with Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary blossomed during the intense period of the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Rising to Stardom During World Cup
The 22-year-old footballer from Cairns experienced an extraordinary surge in popularity during the tournament held in Australia. Fowler's Instagram following skyrocketed from 40,000 to 460,000 as she became a household name across the nation.
Her remarkable rise included some unique achievements beyond the football pitch. She became the first footballer to walk the runway at Paris Fashion Week and even had a Barbie doll created in her likeness, cementing her status as a cultural icon.
Despite the overwhelming attention, Fowler maintains positive feelings about the tournament itself. "I have so many positive feelings about the tournament itself," she told News Corp, reflecting on her role in helping Australia reach the semi-finals.
Managing Relationship in the Spotlight
The Australian forward revealed that she and Cleary began seeing each other during the World Cup, meeting up several times throughout the competition. "We met up quite a few times during, and I don't think we really thought about it ever getting out," Fowler admitted.
Fortunately for the couple, news of their relationship didn't break until after the tournament concluded. Fowler expressed gratitude that their private moments remained private during the competition, allowing her to focus on her historic performance that saw Australia reach the semi-finals.
The young athlete confessed that adjusting to the sudden media scrutiny proved challenging. "I had never really had that. The growth I had from the World Cup was already one thing I was trying to get used to," she explained. "Then adding all the talk about our relationship... it was a lot. The introvert in me was screaming."
Navigating Challenges Together
Despite living 16,000 kilometres apart, the couple makes their long-distance relationship work. They recently managed to reunite when Cleary was in the UK for the Kangaroos tour, with Fowler travelling from Manchester to watch him play at Liverpool's Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Fowler has found particular value in their shared understanding of professional sport's mental demands. "Something I really appreciate in our relationship is that – although we're both professional athletes – most of our talk about sport is the mental side. Nathan has been so helpful with that," she revealed.
She described Cleary as almost like a role model, drawing inspiration from his approach to his sport despite their different athletic disciplines.
The couple first connected at an Adidas store opening in 2023, with Fowler admitting she attended specifically hoping to speak with the NRL star. Their connection quickly deepened through what she describes as "long and deep conversations."
This year has presented significant challenges for Fowler, who suffered an ACL injury during Manchester City's Women's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United in April. She underwent surgery and won't return to football until next year, but maintains a positive perspective.
"I can't say it's been the worst thing in the world for me. Because I'm someone who really enjoys life outside of football," Fowler shared. "There is more to life than football. And it hasn't taken me this injury to realise that. I already know that."
Fowler is set to release her memoir, Bloom, this week, offering further insights into her remarkable journey both on and off the pitch.
