#PARIS2024: Gold Medal Motherhood

For the past two weeks, much like the rest of the world, I’ve been glued to my TV. Whether I’m critiquing the diving (despite not having a clue of how to execute a simple somersault), singing along to the Spice Girls as a dressage horse dances in time across my screen, or punching the air and spilling my wine all over my husband as Keeley Hodgkinson crosses the 800m finish line for Team GB, I’ve experienced the full spectrum of Olympic emotions. The Paris 2024 Games have been a dazzling showcase of athleticism and dedication. What’s really captured my heart at this Games, is the remarkable journey of the mothers competing on the world stage.

As a new mother myself, navigating the unremitting whirlwind of tiny humans, dirty dishes and laundry, I’ve found myself both inspired but quite honestly, utterly in awe of these women that manage to take on an additional (and physically demanding) responsibility. How do they manage to balance the demands of motherhood with the gruelling requirements of Olympic competition?

Amber Rutter and baby Tommy via @amberjohill

My revelation came quite unexpectedly while I was watching a sport I previously knew nothing about — skeet shooting. In fact, I think I was unaware of its existence until last Saturday. But there I was, mesmerised by the discipline and precision of this sport, with my baby comfortably napping on my chest. Meanwhile, the athlete I was watching, Amber Rutter, transformed my ignorance into fascination. With her long blonde ponytail, perfectly manicured turquoise talons poised at the trigger, and steely focus on her target, she clinched an Olympic silver medal. Her achievement was impressive enough on its own, but the emotional climax came when her husband, who was meant to be staying in the UK to care for their three-month-old son, surprised her by bringing baby Tommy to watch his mother compete in Paris. As she finished performing, she cradled her baby, tears of joy streaming down her face, and described the moment with poignant simplicity saying, “It is just a dream. The fact that I’m able to be a mum and come away with a medal for my country, I am on top of the world right now”. I felt a surge of emotion I hadn’t expected. This wasn’t just an athlete at the peak of her game; it was a mother conquering the world, one clay pigeon at a time!

Amber’s story is a testament to the extraordinary art of balancing life. It’s a juggling act that would make even a circus performer blush, and she isn’t alone. The French judo star, Clarisse Agbegnenou, is another shining example of maternal might. A mother to a young daughter named Athéna, Agbegnenou has become a symbol of female empowerment in France. “I want female athletes who follow me to feel free and legitimate, to break societal codes, change mentalities and change the rules,” she told Le Parisien. “We can have a life as a mother, and have the life of a champion at the same time”. It’s a powerful message, resonating deeply with me and countless others.

Clarisse Agbegnenou with her bronze medal. Photograph by International Judo Federation

These women are rewriting the rulebook on what it means to be a mother and an athlete. But let’s be honest, it’s no easy feat. Balancing training, competing, and motherhood is almost unimaginable. How is this possible? Crystal Dunn, the US soccer star, practically advises, “The biggest thing is creating your village; I’m a big believer in asking for help”. With a French husband taking care of their son, Marcel, Dunn has managed to carve out space for both her athletic and maternal identities. “My son is a huge motivation for me — just for him to see these incredible things I can do as an athlete and as a mum,” she shared. It’s a sentiment echoed by countless other athlete mothers.

Track and field athlete, Quanera Hayes, is another example of the power of community. Thanks to a grant from &Mother, she was able to bring her son, Demetrius, to the Olympics. “It’s been a fun experience,” she said. “I’m learning a lot about myself as a mum, how to be a better mum every day.” This highlights not just the support network but also the importance of creating a supportive environment.

The introduction of the Olympic nursery for Paris 2024 marks a significant advancement in how the Games support athlete parents. US Marathon runner Aliphine Tuliamuk, who experienced firsthand the challenges of competing as a mother, deeply appreciates this new initiative.

Reflecting on her experience at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Tuliamuk said, “I cried a lot on the bus ride to the Olympic Village. I was just watching videos of my baby and looking at her pictures. Then I got there, and I just couldn’t sleep without her.” Determined not to travel without her six-month-old daughter Zoe, she faced a tough situation due to Covid-19 protocols. The marathon was held in Sapporo, but on the first night in the Tokyo athletes’ Village, where children were banned, she was separated from her breastfeeding baby. “The first time I ever slept without Zoe was in the Village. Zoe and my husband stayed in a hotel. That was really hard,” Tuliamuk told BBC Sport Africa. “I was so engorged. I was pumping and thinking, ‘My baby is not even here with me’—then I called them and she was crying, losing her mind because she didn’t understand why her mum is not there.”

US soccer star Crystal Dunn and fellow Team USA athletes prepare for the opening ceremony. Via @cdunn19

incredible

Allyson Felix and daughter by @howlaophotography

Tuliamuk is thrilled about the new provisions for nursing mothers and child carers at Paris 2024, including a dedicated space for children in the athletes’ village. “I am just so happy that in only four years from when I couldn’t be with my baby, it’s now changed to where they have facilities for them. That is pretty incredible.”

The nursery, spearheaded by American sprinting legend, Allyson Felix, and supported by Pampers, provides a dedicated space where athlete parents can care for their children while focusing on their competition. Felix’s own journey to motherhood was fraught with challenges and fears of jeopardising her career. She recalls a particularly dark moment in October 2018 when she trained in secret to hide her pregnancy. “One of the scariest moments of my career started on a dark October morning in 2018,” she shared. “I’m a professional athlete, and my training schedule can be a lot — six days a week, five hours a day. Still, I never train that early, but on this particular day, a special type of fear brought me out at 4am before the sun was rising; a fear that someone might discover a secret I had been keeping.”

WNBA star, Dearica Hamby, is defying expectations and proving that motherhood doesn’t have to be a barrier to success. @dearicamarie

Felix’s fear was rooted in a harsh reality: in track and field, pregnancy was often seen as the end of an athlete’s career. “Getting pregnant in track and field has been called the kiss of death,” she explains. “I have been watching women that I respect and teammates of mine hide pregnancies since I was 19 years old. I’ve seen women have to make gut-wrenching decisions, like deciding whether to recover their health or return to the sport”. Felix’s advocacy has led to significant changes in the industry, including new maternity policies that guarantee pay and bonuses for sponsored athletes around pregnancy. Her efforts have opened doors for other athletes to pursue their careers without sacrificing their dreams of motherhood.

Felix’s contribution to changing the conversation around motherhood and athletics cannot be overstated. Her advocacy has inspired other athletes to challenge outdated norms and seek fair treatment. So can you truly have it all? Fellow record-breaking Jamaican sprinter, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, known as “The Pocket Rocket,” certainly thinks so.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce shares a Mother's Day post dedicated to her son. Via @realshellyannfp

The devoted mother to her son, Zyon, has credited motherhood with empowering her. On Facebook, she shared, “I hope you don’t hide who you are behind motherhood… It’s part of your journey, it’s who you are now, and you embrace it. It’s almost like an add-on to who you are as a woman. If anything, it enhances who you are. So be strong and believe that you too can accomplish great things. Things change, but you definitely can get to the top.”

WNBA star, Dearica Hamby, is defying expectations and proving that motherhood doesn’t have to be a barrier to success. The mother of two recently reflected on her experiences as both an athlete and a mother. She shared, “Unfortunately, our society and work culture perpetuate ‘mum guilt’ as they go back to work, or make mums feel like they can’t both parent and provide. It’s a false choice, and I’m proud to show just how strong mums are and to support other mothers going back to work. Being a mum and doing what I love is really special”. Similarly, Nada Hafez, the Egyptian fencer who competed in Paris while seven months pregnant, made headlines. After narrowly missing a medal, she shared her remarkable journey on Instagram: “My baby and I had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical and emotional. The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to keep the balance of life and sports was nothing short of strenuous, however worth it”.

These women are not just athletes; they’re role models who use their maternal strength to give them an edge on the playing field, as though the love for their children fuels their drive to excel. Professional tennis player, Naomi Osaka, who took a hiatus from tennis to welcome her daughter Shizuru in October 2023, has spoken openly about how motherhood has provided her with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Osaka shared, “Becoming a mother has made me realise my purpose in life. I want to be the best role model for my daughter, and that includes being the best athlete I can be”. Similarly, Casey Krueger, a USWNT star and mother of a two-year-old son named Caleb, echoes Osaka’s sentiments. “There’s no feeling like seeing him after a game or practice,” Krueger told The Equalizer. “It doesn’t matter if it was a good day or a bad day — just the instant I see him, he’s my world and makes things better”.

Psychology tells us that balancing multiple roles can be challenging. A study by Massey and Whitehead explored the experiences of elite athletes transitioning into motherhood. It found that while pregnancy and early motherhood can temporarily reduce an athlete’s physical and mental capacity, the identities they forge as mothers often provide renewed motivation and resilience. However, it can also lead to increased stress and burnout, highlighting the importance of adequate support systems and self-care practices.

The Olympic nursery provides a dedicated space where athlete parents can care for their children while focusing on their competition

There’s no doubt that the sacrifices these professional athletes are making are immense. They miss milestones, endure gruelling training regimens, and often put their own needs on hold. Difficult? Yes. Stressful? Undoubtedly. Possible? Absolutely. Driven by a love for their children and a passion for their sport, these women are rewriting the narrative. They’re showing us that it’s possible to be a devoted mother and a world-class athlete.

As I watch these women compete, I can’t help but feel a surge of inspiration for myself. I feel proud to be a woman. Maybe I will dust off my trainers and head to my netball club (netball is making its Olympic debut at LA 2028, and hey, a girl can dream, right?). Perhaps I’ll swap a trip to Tesco or a pile of laundry for a pilates class with friends. That few hours of sport is what makes me feel like myself; it makes me feel strong, tough, and unstoppable. It gives me identity and purpose. I’m thankful to the women I’ve been watching on my TV for the past two weeks. They’ve reminded me that I too am capable of achieving. I can balance motherhood with my passions, my career, my relationships, and my athletic pursuits.

So cheers to all the mothers out there, juggling life’s many balls. Whether you’re chasing a toddler or a gold medal; you’re an inspiration, and I salute you!