Training for Gold While Raising a Baby: Olympic Moms Through the Decades

There’s been some progress along the way. In 2022, after a number of high-profile Olympic athletes spoke out about their experiences losing sponsorships and health coverage, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee directed the National Governing Bodies of each sport to include provisions with certain protections for athletes during pregnancy and the postpartum period.  At the 2024 Paris Games, the first ever Olympic Village Nursery was created with dedicated space where athletes could spend time with there children, and private space for breastfeeding mothers. That was a big shift since children and family members of competing athletes are generally not allowed in the Olympic Village.

As the photographs below reveal, generations of mothers have competed while pregnant, or with their children cheering from the stands. The path to motherhood is often demanding in any context  — but for Olympians, who train and compete year-round, it can be especially taxing. Here’s a glimpse into the unique challenges facing Olympic moms. 

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