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, but this year there are more supermoms than ever before participating and making their mark in the Olympics and Paralympics. And, for the first time, the Olympic Village will have a nursery, giving athlete mothers the chance to spend more precious time with their babies while managing their intense training.
To celebrate Olympic Games Paris 2024, we wanted to shine a light on the phenomenal mums competing this year.
The mums competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Helen Glover
GB rower Helen Glover announced her retirement after winning back-to-back gold medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016. But after raising a family, she returned and took fourth place at Tokyo 2020, and is now going going for a third gold medal at Paris 2024.
On her Instagram she shares: "To get to my 4th Olympic Games will be a challenge but the thought of these 3 watching me at from the finish line puts more fire in my belly than I ever thought possible."
Charley Davison
The GB boxer will have her three children Arnell, Armani and Amir cheering her on from their Suffolk home while she competes.
Via the BBC Charley admits that "being away from her children can be a wrench, but when in training she is "fully focused" on business in the ring."
Nekoda Smythe-Davis
Nekoda is a Commonwealth gold medal-winning judoka (judo expert) who has won silver and bronze at the World Championships and represented Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics.
Nekoda told The Guardian that "Being an athlete mum feels like the hardest job in the world." She describes it as a balancing act and says you feel like you're burning the candle at both ends. but despite ffeeling split i two a lot of the time, she says it's rewarding when you get it right!
Bianca Williams
Bianca is a European and Commonwealth 4x100m gold medallist. This will be her first time competing in the Olympics.
Bianca told The Guardian: "Pregnancy and birth changed my body a lot." She shares that she was still able to go to the gym practically right up until the birth, so she felt really strong. But goes on to describe how after giving birth "It was as if my body had just turned into mush." Having never experienced cellulite in her life, and being used to having a fit and toned body, it was a real reality check to say the least.
Sarah Storey
Cyclist and swimmer with 28 Paralympic medals (17 gold) told The Guardian: "When you are a mum, you worry about a lot less stuff as an athlete, because you have another person to keep alive." She describes how it gives you a different perspective, knowing your kids will witness your work ethic. She says, "It gives me goosebumps thinking what they would have missed out on being exposed to if I’d chosen to stop competing."
Naomi Folkard
Back in 2021 Naomi shared with Warwickshire World that motherhood had "broadened her horizons and is keeping the competitive fires burning brighter than ever heading into her fifth Olympic Games."
Via Archery GB, Naomi shares why she has made the move now into coaching: "I have always been interested in education and teaching, so when I had the opportunity to do a coaching course, I knew I had to take it", she says. When asked what it meant to her to be a coach, she shares, "It means that I can use my experience to help athletes achieve their potential, and I can be a small but hopefully significant part of their journey."