Successfully completed an outstanding racing season, pregnant for eight months
Pregnant Professional Athlete Makes History at Unbound 50
In a remarkable display of determination and resilience, a professional athlete has made headlines by completing the gruelling Unbound 50 race while eight and a half months pregnant. This feat is not only a testament to her athletic prowess but also serves as an inspiring example for women aiming to balance a career with starting a family.
The athlete, who has previously podiumed at BWR CA, finished the SBT GRVL race at 8 months pregnant, with her mother participating alongside her. She has also raced five times during her pregnancy, including BWR AZ, Sea Otter Gravel, Levi's Gran, Unbound 50, and SBT Green.
Her goal is to break down barriers and inspire other women to pursue their careers while starting a family. She acknowledges that every pregnancy is unique and individuals should not feel pressured to race at 8 months pregnant if they don't want to. However, she wants to set an example for what it could look like to be a pregnant professional athlete.
The athlete's story has received an overwhelmingly positive response, with her brand partners, including Scott, Shimano, CamelBak, Zico Coconut, CarbsFuel, Garmin, Vittoria, fully supportive throughout her pregnancy.
While the athlete has experienced pre-race nerves different from usual, as the focus shifted from results to staying safe during pregnancy, she has managed to maintain a relatively smooth pregnancy. She consulted her doctor and reserved the right to not do a race if she felt uncomfortable during her pregnancy.
Several other professional athletes have continued competing while pregnant, each with their unique experiences. For instance, pro cyclist Sandra Alonso, ranked in the UCI top 100, announced her pregnancy during her prime competitive years and expressed feeling great during pregnancy but acknowledged that returning to competition after childbirth would be challenging.
Aude Biannic, a French cyclist with Movistar, unknowingly raced famous events like the 2024 Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix during early pregnancy before confirming it afterward. Odicci Alexander-Bennett, a softball pitcher, competed throughout the entire Australian Softball League season while pregnant, contributing significantly to her team's success.
Chantal van den Broek-Blaak, another pro cyclist, ended her career upon expecting her second child but had expressed strong intent to race at the highest level while pregnant. Pro triathletes like Gwen Jorgensen, Sarah True, Meredith Kessler, and Sarah Piampiano have been supported by athlete-mom grants, indicating the intersection of motherhood and elite sport participation.
As the athlete approaches her post-pregnancy journey, she aims to approach it in a similar way as her pregnancy, acknowledging it as something new, sharing the ups and downs along the way, and seeing what her body can do. Her inspiring story continues to resonate with many, encouraging women to pursue their dreams while starting a family.
**
[1] Source 1
[2] Source 2
[3] Source 3
[4] Source 4
[5] Source 5
