The 2024 Paris Olympics is witnessing a remarkable shift in the perception of motherhood and professional athletics. Gone are the days when motherhood was seen as incompatible with a career in competitive sports. Olympian moms are proving that old stereotypes are being shattered, demonstrating that they can excel at the highest level of their sports while raising children.
From the judo mat to the basketball court, Olympian mothers are rewriting the narrative of what it means to be a successful athlete. This change is fueled by a growing recognition of the challenges faced by athlete parents and a desire to provide support for them. A prime example of this is the first-of-its-kind nursery at the Games, set up by retired track star Allyson Felix in partnership with Pampers.
Felix, the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history with 11 medals, believes this facility can bridge the gap between athletes with ample resources and those who come from underfunded countries. “We’re talking about (athletes from) countries that can be very small, can be underfunded. And we know that how expensive it is,” she explained.
Felix’s own experience as a mother athlete has been instrumental in driving this change. Five years ago, she revealed that she was paid less by sponsor Nike after becoming pregnant, leading her to split with the brand. This sparked a conversation about the challenges faced by pregnant athletes and the need for greater support.
“There’s been a shift in culture,” Felix said, acknowledging the progress made since then. The nursery at the Olympics is a reflection of this growing need for resources and a changing attitude towards working mothers in sports.
US basketball player Breanna Stewart, who is competing in her third Olympics, echoes this sentiment. “Speaking for moms, especially those that are here in the Olympics, we want to be great at both,” Stewart said. “We just want to continue to change the standard, change the narrative.”
Stewart’s daughter, Ruby, was born via surrogacy less than 48 hours after the US team won gold in Tokyo. She and her wife, retired Spanish basketball player Marta Xargay, welcomed their son, Theo, last year. Stewart, a twice MVP in the WNBA, said Ruby will celebrate her third birthday at the Games: “There’s a ton of kids with our Team USA group. So I’m sure we’ll find something fun.”
Fans in Paris have also been vocal about their appreciation for seeing athlete mothers compete at the highest level. “Careers don’t stop when you have a baby, and that is beautiful,” said French fan Auriane Sanchez, 21, who watched compatriot Clarisse Agbegnenou pick up bronze in judo on Tuesday.
Agbegnenou, who gave birth to her daughter in 2022, spearheaded a campaign to get the French Olympic Committee to provide hotel rooms for breastfeeding French athletes. “That’s incredible to come back like this after a pregnancy. A little girl that I’m still breastfeeding – that’s crazy. I can be proud of me. I’ll put the medal around my daughter’s neck,” she said.
Brazilian judoka Natasha Ferreira, who adopted her son seven years ago when she was 18, expressed her gratitude for the support she received in Paris. “Athletes already have to be very disciplined and when you have a son you will have to be even more disciplined to be able to have quality time,” she told Reuters. “It was really good to have my son with me in the Olympics.”
The presence of Olympian moms at the Games is a powerful reminder that motherhood and athletic success can coexist. As these athletes continue to excel in their respective sports, they are paving the way for future generations of athlete parents and inspiring countless others along the way.
