 His personal best time is 11.44.11.Tinilau also participated in the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, (11.57 sec) the 2011 World Championships (11.58 secs) and the 2013 World Championships (11.57 secs).His personal best in the long jump is 6.52 m.

Tinilau is also part of the Tuvalu national football team as a midfielder and participated in the 2011 Pacific Games.