There are so many things that made Paris 2024 Olympics very special. 

One of these was achieving ‘full gender parity on the field of play’ which the International Olympic Committee defines as having set a quota to distribute competition spots equally to female and male athletes, with a goal to have female athlete participation at 50%.  That’s a long way from the first time women competed in the modern Games in 1900, when they made up just 2% of athletes.  There are, of course, lots of caveats such as lack of gender parity across countries, as well as across leadership and coaching positions, but at least the intention is there and we’re heading in the right direction. 

But what I would like to celebrate most are the trailblazing Olympic Mums – or the Olympi-Mums as they have become known – who had so much success and recognition at Paris 2024. 

Team GB had nine mums competing, with gold medals for Katy Marchant in the cycling and Ros Canter in the Equestrian, silvers for Amber Rutter in the shooting, Helen Glover in the rowing, Bianca Williams in the 4x100m relay, silver and bronze for Elinor Barker in the cycling, and bronze for Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne in the rowing. 

But it wasn’t just Team GB that was powered by awesome mums. Take seven-months pregnant Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez, rowers Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis of New Zealand, Japanese tennis pro Naomi Osaka, Azerbaijani archer Yaylagul Ramazanova who competed while six months pregnant – she said she felt her baby kick before taking aim,  USA’s basketball player Brittney Griner, Australia’s water poloist Keesja Gofer – this list goes on and it’s great to see so many mums smashing the prejudices and stereotypes.

Having listened and read interviews with these amazing Olympi-Mums, it’s clear that there’s much women in all fields – with or without children – can learn from how these athletes achieved their glory in a very tough working environment. 

Make sure you have your support team in place

Team GB’s Amber Rutter, who won a silver in the shooting, has a three month old son Tommy.  She talked about the ‘team effort’ – not just her Olympic support team, but her husband, mum and family who helped her through her training and offered her emotional support, especially during moments of ‘mum guilt’.  She said:

“I just hope that we can really share the message to other mums of how important it is that your life doesn’t stop after having a baby.”

Amber Rutter

USA’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, “The Pocket Rocket,” a mother to 6-year-old son Zyon, was competing in her last Olympics.  

 “My husband and I have been together since before I won in 2008. He has sacrificed for me. We’re a partnership, a team. And it’s because of that support that I’m able to do the things that I have been doing for all these years.”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Fight for the things that will help you combine your ambition with motherhood

For the first time ever, the Paris 2024 Olympic village had a creche, soft play and breastfeeding areas – and mums were supported in their sporting journey by the Paris Olympics organisers.

US sprinter and seven-time Olympics gold medallist Allyson Felix was the force behind the creche. A mother of two, she described it as a place where ‘families can get away from it all and have some of the comforts of home’.

The Pregnancy Policy was published in 2021 by UK Sport. This is filled with guidance for athletes and governing bodies on how to help sporting mothers – including training schedules and advice about special nursing sports bras.

These examples highlight the need to keep the pressure on government and organisations to provide the means and the facilities to successfully combine women’s ambitions with motherhood. 

It’s a balancing act

It doesn’t matter what you do for a living. Welcoming a child and then getting back to work is one of the most complicated things for a mother to adjust to.

Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez blew away the Internet when she revealed that she was competing seven months pregnant. She wrote on Instagram:

“My baby & I had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical & emotional.  The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own but having to fight to keep the balance of life & sports was nothing short of strenuous.  However it was worth it!”

Nada Hafez

USA soccer star Crystal Dunn’s husband, who is French, takes care of their son while she competes.  She said that 2-year-old Marcel keeps her going on the field.

“My son is a huge motivation for me—just for him to see these incredible things I can do as an athlete and as a mom. Hopefully we’re getting to a place where woman can be moms and pursue their career at the highest level. I think the biggest thing, too, is creating your village. I’m a big believer in asking for help.”

Crystal Dunn

Don’t be constrained by Mum-Guilt

Dearica Hamby, a mother of two to daughter Amaya and son Legend, won a bronze for the USA in the 3×3 basketball.  She talks about society perpetuating the pressure on Mums to feel guilty about their ambitions.

 “Unfortunately, our society and work culture perpetuate ‘mom guilt’ as they go back to work, or making moms feel like they can’t both parent and provide. It’s a false choice, and I’m proud to show just how strong moms are and to support other mothers going back to work. Being a mom and doing what I love is really special.”

Dearica Hamby

Champion mums everywhere in society

As well as demonstrating their epic sporting abilities, the athletes also used the Paris 2024 Olympics as a chance to champion mums everywhere.

Helen Glover, who returned to rowing after having her children, won a silver medal at this year’s games.  She said:

 ‘I think normalising (motherhood) is really important. Sport is a massive reflection on society, and I think that to show that you can come back to a hobby or sport, to show that you can come back and excel, not despite having children, but because you have children. I think it’s a message to society to say there is space, there should be openness, there should be encouragement for women to come back and do whatever they want to do when they’ve had kids.’

Helen Glover

Be a trailblazer your kids will be proud of

Mums worry about not being there for their kids, but being a strong female role model and changing attitudes and behaviours towards women will ultimately make your kids very proud.  So celebrate being a trailblazer – whatever field you are working in. 

Aleia Hobbs, who was part of Team USA’s 4×100 relay, adopted son Amir in 2022 with her partner. In a piece she wrote for World Athletics, she said he’s motivated her to go harder than ever before in her sport.

 “The biggest change when you become a parent is not physical. It’s mental. Having him around makes me go so much harder when I get on the track. I’ve got a child to feed now, and I can’t wait ’til he gets older and sees what’s going on in my career.”

Aleia Hobbs

The tennis ace, Naomi Osaka, who represented Japan at the Olympics, is the mother of 1-year-old daughter Shai. She says becoming a mother made her stronger.

 “It forced me to see life in a different way. It made me a lot more grateful for the sport and, in turn, made me know there are so many possibilities outside tennis.  Being a parent is hard.  As a professional athlete I am no stranger to hard work or early mornings, but the last 6 months as a new mom has given me a whole new appreciation and understanding of what parents do every single day.

Parents, moms in particular, are historically told that babies will be a barrier to personal goals – that they will stop you from achieving your dreams. But I have discovered that Shai is my ultimate motivator; she makes me want to achieve greatness. I’m proud of myself for continuing to chase my dreams while also being a mom. And I recognize that I’m fortunate to have the support to return to work – and so many parents don’t have that choice. But we ALL deserve it.”

Naomi Osaka