# Tilali Scanlan > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tilali_Scanlan > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tilali_Scanlan.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilali_Scanlan > Source revision: 1356031792 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American Samoan swimmer (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox swimmer | name = Tilali Scanlan | image = File:Tilali Scanlan at the 2020 Summer Olympics.webp | caption = Scanlan at the [2020 Summer Olympics](/source/2020_Summer_Olympics) | fullname = Tilali Rose Leslie Scanlan | nationality = American Samoan | strokes = [Breaststroke](/source/Breaststroke) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|11|03}} | birth_place = [Vaitogi, American Samoa](/source/Vaitogi%2C_American_Samoa) | module= {{Infobox scientist | embed = yes | education = {{ubl|[University of the South Pacific](/source/University_of_the_South_Pacific) (BS)|[Western Washington University](/source/Western_Washington_University) (MA)}} | field = {{hlist|[Ecology](/source/Ecology)|[environmental studies](/source/environmental_studies)}} }}}} '''Tilali Rose Leslie Scanlan''' (born November 3, 1999) is an American Samoan [swimmer](/source/swimming_(sport)). She competed in the [women's 100 meter breaststroke](/source/Swimming_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_100_metre_breaststroke) at the [2020 Summer Olympics](/source/2020_Summer_Olympics). Following her Olympic career, Scanlan became a marine and coastal [environmental studies](/source/environmental_studies) researcher. Scanlan was born in [Vaitogi, American Samoa](/source/Vaitogi%2C_American_Samoa), on November 3, 1999, the seventh of eight children. She was [homeschooled](/source/homeschooling) for most of her education until college, and participated in various sports growing up, including swimming and [judo](/source/judo).{{Cite web |last=Moffitt |first=Nerelle |date=2019-02-09 |title=Meet Tilali Scanlan |url=https://nerelle.com/meet-tilali-scanlan/ |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=Nerelle.com |language=en-US}} Scanlan was the youngest competitor at the [2011 Pacific Games](/source/2011_Pacific_Games), where she completed in [swimming](/source/Swimming_at_the_2011_Pacific_Games).{{Cite web |title=Résultats: 14es Jeux du Pacifique |trans-title=Results: 14th Pacific Games |url=https://fijiaquatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2011-Pacific-Games.pdf |access-date=2026-02-17 |publisher=[Fédération Française de Natation](/source/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_Fran%C3%A7aise_de_Natation) |language=fr |via=Fiji Swimming}}{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2017 |title=Local swimmer Tilali Scanlan ready for world championships |url=https://www.talanei.com/2017/07/20/local-swimmer-tilali-scanlan-ready-for-world-championships/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=[Talanei](/source/Talanei) |language=en-US}} She also represented American Samoa as a cadet ([U18](/source/Under-18_athletics)) at the 2014 [Oceania Judo Union Championships](/source/Oceania_Judo_Championships).{{Cite web |title=Tilali Scanlan |url=https://www.ijf.org/judoka/15901/overview |access-date=2026-02-17 |publisher=[International Judo Federation](/source/International_Judo_Federation)}} In swimming, Scanlan has competed in various [World Aquatics](/source/World_Aquatics) events, including the [2016 World 25 m Swimming Championships](/source/2016_FINA_World_Swimming_Championships_(25_m)), [2017 World Championships](/source/2017_World_Aquatics_Championships), [2018 World 25 m Swimming Championships](/source/2018_FINA_World_Swimming_Championships_(25_m)), and [2019 World Championships](/source/2019_World_Aquatics_Championships). She [represented American Samoa](/source/American_Samoa_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics) at the 2020 Summer Olympics in [Tokyo](/source/Tokyo), where she was the [flag bearer for American Samoa](/source/List_of_flag_bearers_for_American_Samoa_at_the_Olympics) at the opening ceremony and swam the women's 100 m breaststroke, placing 32nd.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/140555 |title=Tilali Scanlan |work= |access-date=July 25, 2021|publisher=[Olympedia](/source/Olympedia)}} Following the Olympics, Scanlan began focusing more on her research pursuits, stating on [Instagram](/source/Instagram) that she would "take a momentary pause for a much needed physical and mental break" from swimming.{{Cite web |last=Scanlan |first=Tilali |date=July 31, 2021 |title=10 years ago I was the youngest competitor at the Pacific Games in New Caledonia representing American Samoa in swimming. Now, I am o-fish-ally an OLYMPIAN |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CR_IIiCLtZS/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |via=[Instagram](/source/Instagram)}} She had moved from American Samoa to [Wellington](/source/Wellington), New Zealand, in 2016 to further her swimming career as there was no [Olympic-size swimming pool](/source/Olympic-size_swimming_pool) anywhere in American Samoa. While in Wellington, Scanlan studied [marine biology](/source/marine_biology) at [Victoria University of Wellington](/source/Victoria_University_of_Wellington).{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Lin Fhoong |date=July 28, 2017 |title=No pool back home but everything’s going swimmingly for Tilali |url=https://www.todayonline.com/sports/no-pool-back-home-everythings-going-swimmingly-tilali |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=[Today](/source/Today_(website)) |language=en}} In 2017, she was named Pasifika Sportsperson of the Year and Victoria University Sportsperson of the Year at an award ceremony by the university.{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2017 |title=Congratulations to Tilali Scanlan who was named Sportsperson of the Year and Pasifika Sportsperson of the Year at the Blues Awards ceremony last night. |url=https://www.facebook.com/victoriauniversityofwellington/photos/1750328514980771/ |access-date=2026-02-17 |publisher=[Victoria University of Wellington](/source/Victoria_University_of_Wellington) |via=[Facebook](/source/Facebook)}}{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2017 |title=Tilali Scanlan wins top sports awards at Victoria Uni |url=https://www.talanei.com/2017/09/21/tilali-scanlan-wins-top-sports-awards-at-victoria-uni/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=[Talanei](/source/Talanei) |language=en-US}} She completed her bachelor's degree in [marine science](/source/marine_science) with a focus on [coral reef ecology](/source/coral_reef_ecology) at the [University of the South Pacific](/source/University_of_the_South_Pacific) in Fiji.{{Cite web |last=Spikes |first=Allie |date=2025-11-24 |title=Olympic Swimmer and WWU grad student Tilali Scanlan takes on coastal hazards in American Samoa |url=https://news.wwu.edu/olympic-swimmer-and-wwu-grad-student-tilali-scanlan-takes-on-coastal-hazards-in-american-samoa |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=WWU News |publisher=[Western Washington University](/source/Western_Washington_University) |language=en}} When borders closed for a time due to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), Scanlan was stranded in Fiji with no way to return to American Samoa or elsewhere in the U.S.{{Cite web |last=Ewart |first=Richard |date=2020-04-28 |title=Olympic hopeful cut off from home and family |url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/marooned-swimmer/12195980 |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=[ABC Pacific](/source/ABC_Pacific) |language=en-AU}} She later went to Hawaii, where she took courses online and trained for the Olympics. After her graduation from university, from 2022 to 2024 Scanlan worked as a National Coral Reef Management Fellow{{Cite web |title=2022–2024 Fellow Profiles |url=https://coast.noaa.gov/data/coralreef_noaa_gov/gallery/0004-2022-RNK-HCAS-Coral_Fellows_Flyer.pdf |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=National Coral Reef Management Fellowship |publisher=[NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program](/source/NOAA_Coral_Reef_Conservation_Program)}} – funded by a partnership between the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](/source/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration) and [Nova Southeastern University](/source/Nova_Southeastern_University){{Cite journal |last=Scanlan |first=Tilali |date=May 2022 |title=American Samoa |url=https://nsuworks.nova.edu/coral-reef-fellowship-newsletter/8 |journal=National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Newsletter |publisher=[Nova Southeastern University](/source/Nova_Southeastern_University) |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=2}} – working with the American Samoa Coral Reef Advisory Group on [coral restoration](/source/coral_restoration) in the village of [Aua](/source/Aua%2C_American_Samoa) and teaching coral identification across the territory.{{Cite web |title=Team |url=https://www.crag.as/meet-the-team |access-date=2026-02-18 |publisher=American Samoa Coral Reef Advisory Group |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Noren |first=Lara |last2=Scanlan |first2=Tilali |last3=Perez |first3=Elly |last4=Quichocho |first4=Camille |date=12 October 2023 |title=Coral Management Fellows in the Pacific Coral Reef Jurisdictions |url=https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/NOAAScienceSeminars_2023.php#TopExp385272 |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=NOAA Science Seminar Series |publisher=[Center for Satellite Applications and Research](/source/Center_for_Satellite_Applications_and_Research)}} Scanlan joined the 2024 cohort of graduate students at [Western Washington University](/source/Western_Washington_University)'s [College of the Environment](/source/College_of_the_Environment_(Western_Washington_University)), where she received an [M.A. degree](/source/Master_of_Arts) in [environmental studies](/source/environmental_studies) with a [policy](/source/Environmental_policy) specialization, advised by Rebekah Paci-Green.{{Cite web |title=Graduate Student Photos/Bios |url=https://cenv.wwu.edu/graduate-student-photosbios |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=College of the Environment |publisher=[Western Washington University](/source/Western_Washington_University)}} In 2025, she worked as a research assistant under Paci-Green, studying the coastal residents of [Hilo, Hawaii](/source/Hilo%2C_Hawaii)'s perception of building deterioration and seismic hazards.{{Cite web |title=Student Involvement |url=https://wp.wwu.edu/rebekah-paci-green/students/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Rebekah Paci-Green |publisher=[Western Washington University](/source/Western_Washington_University)}} She has been noted by the [International Olympic Committee](/source/International_Olympic_Committee) and the [Lewis Pugh Foundation](/source/Lewis_Pugh_Foundation) as a notable sports figure serving as a sustainability leader.{{Cite web |last=Merrell |first=Chloe |date=8 March 2022 |title=International Women's Day 2022 – The female Olympians leading the charge for sustainability |url=https://www.olympics.com/en/news/international-womens-day-2022-female-olympians-sustainability |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=[Olympics.com](/source/Olympics.com)}}{{Cite web |title=Tilali Scanlan: Olympic reef protector |url=https://lewispughfoundation.org/voice/tilali-scanlan/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website= |publisher=[Lewis Pugh Foundation](/source/Lewis_Pugh_Foundation) |language=en-GB}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Sports links}} {{Authority control}} {{s-start}} {{s-sports|oly}} {{succession box | before = [Tanumafili Jungblut](/source/Tanumafili_Jungblut) | title = [Flag bearer](/source/List_of_flag_bearers_for_American_Samoa_at_the_Olympics) for {{ASA}} | years = [Tokyo 2020](/source/2020_Summer_Olympics) (with [Tanumafili Jungblut](/source/Tanumafili_Jungblut)) | after = [Nathan Crumpton](/source/Nathan_Crumpton) }} {{s-end}} {{2020 American Samoa Summer Olympic team}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Scanlan, Tilali}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:American Samoan female swimmers Category:Olympic swimmers for American Samoa Category:Swimmers at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Victoria University of Wellington alumni Category:University of the South Pacific alumni Category:Nova Southeastern University people Category:Western Washington University alumni Category:American women marine biologists Category:American women ecologists Category:American ecologists Category:Environmental studies scholars --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tilali Scanlan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilali_Scanlan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilali_Scanlan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.