Once, in the not-too-distant past, becoming a mum meant having to leave dreams of a successful sports career behind.
But in Paris 2024, this is far from the truth. Part of the evolving landscape of women’s sport has meant a more welcoming and accepting space for mothers who want to return to their careers after having children.
Just recently, FIFA have introduced a minimum of 14 weeks paid maternity leave for players, and England Netball have set the standard on how sports can support women returning to play, providing pregnancy-specific guidance such as pelvic floor exercises and advice.
Meet the mums who are competing in Paris 2024
From early morning training sessions to sleepless nights looking after a new-born, returning to elite sport after giving birth is no simple feat.
Let’s meet some of the mums who are competing in this summer’s Games…
GB’s Helen Glover
Helen Glover MBE is aiming to be the “best athlete and best mum” in Paris 2024, saying the challenge between balancing the two is what motivates her.
Helen is ranked world No.1 female in rowing and has won two Olympic gold medals in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
It was after her second gold when she decided to retire from sport, at which point she started a family.
But in 2021, Helen announced that she had returned to elite training, and not long after came fourth in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which took place a year later due to the pandemic, with her Coxless Pair partner Polly Swann.
Speaking to the BBC about her return to sport, Helen said: “Most days it’s just absolute carnage to be honest, it really is getting through the days – you can plan a perfect day and it very rarely happens.”
“I had four years off, retired, started a family, had three children and then coming back in that final year was almost more of a statement, saying ‘I can do this, anyone can do this after having kids’”.
“I’d love to come away with a medal, I’d love to be on that podium.”
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is widely seen as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion in the 100m, her signature event, but has won eight Olympic medals in total.
She was raised by her mother, who was once a runner herself and worked as a street vendor in Kingston, Jamaica, along with her two brothers.
Shelly-Ann started in primary school, where she would run barefoot, and quickly became the one-to-beat on the youth athletics scene. She went from strength-to-strength in a career that has spanned more than a decade and a half.
Shelly-Ann will retire after Paris 2024 to spend more time with her family. “My son needs me,” says Shelly-Ann.
“My husband and I have been together since before I won in 2008. He has sacrificed for me. We’re a partnership, a team. And it’s because of that support that I’m able to do the things that I have been doing for all these years. And I think I now owe it to them to do something else.”
GB’s Charley Davison
“I need, want and will get an Olympic medal.” says Olympic boxer and mother of three Charley Davison.
Having won bronze in the 2023 European Games last year and going out in the round-of-16 in Tokyo 2020, Charley was hungry for revenge in Paris, but was unfortunately beaten in the preliminary round where her 2024 Olympics came to an end.
She started boxing at eight years old and quickly rose through the ranks as an amateur boxer, winning a handful of youth events.
Charley took seven years out to raise a family and returned in 2019, initially with no expectation of re-entering the competition scene.
“I started training, got the love for the sport again and just really got stuck in,” Charley says.
“I won a national title at 54kg. It all happened so fast. I didn’t force anything, just enjoyed the sport again, enjoyed the training, and everything fell into place.”
“I like the fact people realise mums are still able to fulfil their dreams after having children,” Charley says. “Life doesn’t stop just because you’ve had kids.”
“At first it was a shock to the system for them, for their mum being away, but they soon adjusted and couldn’t be any happier at home with their dad.”
“When I go home from [training] I know I’ve got such a supportive partner. He does housework, cooking, cleaning, whatever he needs to do he does. I can get home, relax with the family and switch off from boxing.”
