While watching highlights of the nail-biting match in which six-times champion Roger Federer struggled to survive on the first day of Wimbledon, Mr. Babe and I decided we knew why.
‘It’s parenthood,’ we concluded. ‘The twins have finished him off.’
Later in the women’s matches, we heard an aside from the commentator about how few mums had successfully revived their tennis careers after kids.
What’s going on, I wondered? Are parenting – more specifically, mothering – and sporting glory mutually exclusive? We think not.
After all every mum deserves a medal at least for making it through labour and delivery, not to talk of raising the munchkins.
Here’s a list of top athletes who prove you can raise both children and championship titles.
Trophy mums, we salute you!
1. Tennis champ Kim Clijsters beat Venus Williams to claim the 2009 US open 18 months after the birth of daughter, Jada.
2. Golfer Catriona Matthew made headlines after she won the Ricoh Women’s British Open just 10 weeks and six days after giving birth to her second child, Sophie.
3. Sheryl Swoopes, the only female athlete to have a shoe named after her (Air Swoopes) and to win a triple-double in the WNBA playoffs, took time off between championships to have son Jordan Eric Jackson.
4. Marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe returned to win the New York Marathon in 2007 just ten months after giving birth to daughter Isla.
5. Arsenal midfielder and England women’s football team MVP Katie Chapman earned more than 70 caps, taking time out to deliver two boys, Harvey and Riley.
6. Swimmer Dara Torres is a four-time Olympic gold medallist, US record-holder in 100m freestyle and mother to Tessa Grace who arrived just 15 months before her mum won gold in the US Nationals Championship.
7. Heptathlete Denise Lewis won the Olympic gold in 2000 and trained throughout her pregnancy and after the birth of her first child for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Nicknamed mother by the UK Olympic camp, she’s now a mum of three, Lauren, Ryan and Kane.
8.Canadian curler Kristie Moore famously competed in the Winter Olympics in February 2010 while five and a half months pregnant, becoming the third athlete in history known to be preggers at the Olympics.
9. US beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, returned to help her team beat Brazil a mere four months after delivering her son.
10. Sailing champ and new mum Sarah Ayton, one of the ‘three blondes in a boat’ who took Olympic gold in Beijing is targeting another gold in 2010.
The thought of taking the time to get physically fit with the physical demands of having a newborn is just inconceivable. I admire the mums who manage it.
Stopping by from SITS!
Hi Cook Clean Craft, I know what you mean. They’re very inspirational but make me feel like a total slob!
Dara Torres has a rockin’ body. I should start working on a trophy of some sort. Maybe then I could lose a few lbs.
Hey Dumb Mom, I’m losing weight just through breastfeeding and lugging my chunky one about the place. And of course hoola hooping, my favourite new activity. If you get a chance, you should give it a go!
There have been THREE pregnant mothers competing at the Olympics?! That is nuts!
I came over here from SITS, and I must admit I thought “trophy moms” would be about something else. I like your use of term better, though :)
Very well written, and congrats on your SITS day!
Wow, those are some amazing women! I don’t know whether to cheer them on or hate them for making me look extremely lazy.
Enjoy your SITS day!
Ooh, reading this makes me want to go hop on the treadmill and get moving! Great site you have here – I really like the design.
Visiting from SITS – Enjoy your feature day! :-)
Great post! You have a great sense of humor.
Thanks for this post! It’s very inspiring indeed, especially as I’m on my train on the way to work. I always love hearing about other women who have “done it” under amazing demands/expectations. It helps me feel that if they can grind through the tough days (and we all have them) then I can too. Thanks again, I’ll keep thinking about this post as I go through my day.
Happy SITS Day! Great post – that is truly inspiring! My hats off to those ladies! although, I there are days that I feel like a bodybuilder after having lifted/wrestled/chased my 2-1/2 year old!
Happy SITS day. Love your blog. Hope you enjoy your day.
What an awesome list!! Although, as a mom myself, I wish I had the drive to accomplish even half of the things these amazing women have!! I feel accomplished if I make it through my to do list in one day! But I suppose that is some kind of an accomplishment for me! :) I had no idea about many of these women! Moms can do anything BECAUSE we’ve been through labor and are raising munchkins! The Olympics is probably easy compared to having a child. :)
Visiting from SITS! Congratulations on your SITS Day!
Wow! I cannot believe how much I needed to read this chalked full of Girl Power post! Great timing! My LAST or as some say, youngest child of 3, is one year next month, I’m loosing weight, feeling healthy but really ready to get the “Me before kids” back. I was feeling guilty and selfish, but now I’m inspired to Go For It. Thank you for sharing this!! I’ll be back for more!
WOW! That is super interesting. And just goes to show that you really can get rid of that baby fat. Who knew?
Uju, what a wonderful post and tribute to amazing mommies! It’s just the kick in the pants I needed this week to get my lazy bum in gear!
I am very close to winning the gold for the Grocery Store Aisle 100 Meter Dash. :)
PS- I can even do it while singing the ABC’s, and wiping a boogie off a nose.
Happy Day to you, SITStah.
Wow! This is an awesome post. Women power!
I vow to that. There are moms out there doing so many amazing things and yet they rarely get credit. Sometimes it’s just because people assume that, if a woman is doing something really well, she must not be a mom!
Thanks for this post.
I have visited your blog previously but today I’m doing so in honor of your SITS feature. Congratulations. Well deserved.
Now this is the kind of trophy mom I can get behind – I thought I was going to reading about over-achievers of a different sort. These moms rock!
Wow, this is a great list! I definitely expected to find something else… but you chose a great title for this post! ;) I love that these moms continued to be WHO THEY ARE even when they had children. Yes, life changes–no doubt–and yet we still have to somehow manage to be who WE are in the midst of blow-outs and boogers. Well said! And of course… happy SITS day!