Being a Mom and an Athlete

How do elite athletes handle being both moms and sportswomen?

Elite athlete moms

The moment a woman decides to become a mom, she faces a total shift in her work and personal life. This happens to all women in general.

But it hits harder when you decide to be a mom and an athlete

For moms who are professional athletes, there’s no doubt that pregnancy, childbirth recovery, and caring for the newborn make athletes lose their main focus, which is their performance.

During pregnancy, moms have to change their goals. Training while pregnant is a maintenance phase where no performance improvements will happen. Once the baby is born, they need to physically recover and take on their new role as a mom with unavoidable responsibilities.

Pregnancies in CrossFit

Kara Webb Saunders, the fourth fittest woman on earth, has some great news—she’s pregnant.

The Aussie, who’s been competing in the Games since 2012, announced on her personal Instagram that she’s expecting a baby girl, affectionately called a “bear cub” by her.

In the photo, she’s weighted down with a vest, hanging from a bar alongside her husband, who’s holding a board with the message that the baby girl will arrive in May 2019.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpytbzJn_aO/

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByPbSECgCkh/

Putting competition on hold

Kara is 29 and has always said she’s very family-oriented, enjoying a simple life. A good workout, good food, and spending time with friends and family.

That’s how she describes a perfect day

In earlier interviews, Kara made it clear she planned to be a mom. When asked <<where do you see yourself in a few years?>>, she answered that she saw herself as a very fit mom.

And fit she is, considering Kara (Webb) Saunders’ track record. Her CrossFit Games results: 2018 – 4th, 2017 – 2nd, 2016 – 7th, 2015 – 5th, 2014 – 31st, 2013 – 12th, 2012 – 19th.

Now it makes sense why her name wasn’t on the qualifiers list for the upcoming Dubai CrossFit Championship in mid-December. Last year, the Aussie took second place after 4 intense days of competition.

CrossFit moms

Kara won’t be the first elite CrossFit athlete to become a mom. We have other athletes who’ve shared their experiences, like Lindsey Valenzuela. A recognized Games athlete, she now has a 2-year-old son and has openly talked about the challenges female athletes face when starting a family.

Lindsey always stresses that her son is the best thing that’s ever happened to her, but she admits she had to pay some tolls

Lindsey’s pregnancy didn’t go as smoothly as she hoped. Despite keeping up appropriate physical activity and eating as well as possible, fully aware of its importance, she gained quite a bit of weight, which caused some extra issues.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmBtoMelRaU/

She explained that despite huge support at home from family and her husband, balancing being a businesswoman (owner of CrossFit Autumo), pro athlete, mom, and woman was tough and required time to adapt and learn.

Postpartum recovery

After giving birth, the athlete developed an even deeper awareness to prioritize health above all.

She’s spread the word about how important a good postpartum recovery is, especially regarding the pelvic floor, beyond just fighting to get back a personal best in Olympic weightlifting.

That’s why she’s worked hard to return to sport in a healthy way

We saw her competing at the 2018 Regionals, almost qualifying for the Games. Definitely a role model who’s proven that hard work always wins. She was one of the first to publicly congratulate Kara.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjVDfzwH1pf/

Training CrossFit while pregnant

Another CrossFit mom, Christmas Abbott, trained practically up to her due date:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BomnOD3jbrb/

Sports moms, special HSN pack

We’ve put together a special pack for all those athlete moms who want the best sports nutrition. Start taking care of yourself and getting active!

What products are included in the pack?

Related posts

• Benefits of Exercising during Pregnancy
• Nutrition and Supplementation before, during, and after Pregnancy