Us mums are pretty incredible if we do say so ourselves, so it's no surprise to know that some of the team GB athletes competing in the olympics are mums themselves.
It’s no secret that our bodies go through a lot when we become mums, and from carrying a child to giving birth, our bodies can change a lot after we have a baby, so it’s understandable why there aren’t many mums competing in the olympics.
However, to celebrate this year’s 2020 (delayed to 2021) Tokyo Olympics, we wanted to shine a light on the phenomenal mums competing this year.
The mums competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Helen Glover
GB rower Helen was very proud to return to her sport after having three children saying, “it’s about showing my children, other parents and other kids that it’s possible.” Her return makes her the first ever mum to be selected for the GB rowing team.
Naomi Folkard
Champion archer Naomi Folkard was forced to pump and freeze 80 bottles of breast milk for her five-month-old baby Emily who she had to leave in the UK following a ban on travelling relatives. Although Olympic organisers changed their stance, saying that “nursing children” could accompany their mothers “when necessary” Naomi found this was too late and “too stressful” to change her plans.
Charley Davison
The GB boxer will have her three children Arnell, Armani and Amir cheering her on from their Suffolk home while she competes. In a recent interview, she said ‘For years I was told I’d never return to the boxing ring after I stopped the sport when I had Arnell,’
‘People think you can’t do stuff after having one baby, let alone three, so it feels so good to prove them wrong.’
Holly Smith
Not only is equestrian star Holly Smith the first female show jumper to be selected for team GB in 45 years, she’s also a proud mum of one. ‘My passion is of course the job but with a 10-year-old daughter at home, at the end of the day, she needs me so I’ll go to work, do my best, and then come home and be mum.’
Laura Kenny
For Laura, things will be a little different for her kids and both she and her husband Jason are a part of the GB cycling team. She’s certain however that their son, Albie, 4, will be spoiled rotten by his loving grandparents.
‘Up until now the longest I had been away from him was 10 days but I never, ever considered walking away from sport after having a baby. I’ll be in Tokyo to get the job done and we plan to FaceTime him twice a day if we can as I know I will struggle missing him.’