Katrina Gorry memoir: How her relationship with fiancée Clara Markstedt started

Matildas star Katrina Gorry and fiancée Clara Markstedt‘s love story started like most modern ones – with the help of Tinder – but not in the way you’d expect it to happen. 

The pair had been messaging via Instagram before they met, because the Aussie football star was relocating to Sweden to play for Markstedt’s team in 2020, and she was in charge of welcoming foreigners due to her social skills. 

“I thought it was amazing that she was 29, alone with her six-month-old baby through IVF and moving to the other side of the world to play football,” Marksted says in an excerpt of Gorry’s new book. 

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Their first meeting in person was chaotic, with the self-check-in at the hotel not working, but Markstedt was taken back by how calm Gorry was about the whole thing, standing there with baby Harper in her arms. 

“I soon saw that she was on Tinder, but I had a vision that I wasn’t going to date foreigners – because they eventually leave – or date someone on my team – because you have to see them every day,” she explained. 

“Still, I was drawn to her as a person, so I’d just look at her picture and then close the app, without swiping left or right.”  

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Meanwhile, Gorry was just so grateful for all of her help with getting her settled, and especially sorting out proper winter clothes for both her and Harper. 

The Matildas star said Markstedt was just helping out in so many small ways to help them both adjust. 

“I was oblivious to the fact that she was flirting with me; my focus was on Harper,” Gorry wrote. 

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“But we started hanging out and it just felt so normal. We were both so open about our lives and it seemed really easy.

“We spent 10 days with her family on the island where she grew up – Gotland – and honestly, it was the best 10 days I’ve ever had. Everything was so full of love.” 

Markstedt joked that she knew things were serious when they moved in together and Gorry “bought a nice coffee maker and a Dyson vacuum”. 

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They got engaged in June 2023, sharing the happy news together on Instagram. 

The pair now live in London, and their family has grown with the arrival of their first child together – Gorry’s second – in June 2024.

The pair announced the birth of their son in a sweet post on Instagram, featuring a gorgeous snap of Harper cuddling her brother. 

“Our sweet baby boy. Koby Peter David Gorry. Born 9/6 at 10:36am 3660g & 50cm. Big sister is absolutely in love and our hearts are so full,” read the caption.

Katrina Gorry, by Katrina Gorry with Robert Wainwright (Allen & Unwin; $35), is out June 3.

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