Another Pregnant Athlete Competing in the Olympics... "Loving Every Moment as Both Athlete and Mom" [Paris Olympics]

'7 Months Pregnant' Egyptian Fencer Imjin Reveals Pregnancy
UK Archer Jodie Greenham Also Competes at 28 Weeks Pregnant
Efforts to Balance Sports and Personal Life Increase
Geum Jihyeon Competes Domestically While Full-Term Pregnant

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, it was revealed that Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez, who faced women's sabre national representative Jeon Ha-young in the round of 16, was seven months pregnant, drawing attention to the participation of pregnant athletes in the Olympics. Moving away from the past perception that pregnancy and childbirth meant the end of an athlete's career, 'expectant mother' national representative athletes are continuing their challenges to balance both sports and personal life.

After finishing the fencing sabre match on the 29th of last month (local time), Hafez posted on her social media (SNS) under the title "A 7-month pregnant Olympic athlete." She stated, "It may look like there are two athletes on the field, but in fact, there are three," adding, "Me, my opponent (Jeon Ha-young), and my little baby who has not yet been born were together." She also wrote, "I decided to reveal my pregnancy to show the strength and endurance of Egyptian women."

Nada Hafez, the Egyptian women's national sabre fencing representative participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics (Photo by Nada Hafez's SNS)

Hafez lost to Jeon Ha-young 15 to 7 on the day of the match and was eliminated. She emphasized, "Although I have participated in the Olympics three times, this stage was different," and added, "I went through a physically and mentally tough process, but the Olympics is a stage worth participating in despite such circumstances."

Jodie Greenham, the British compound archery national representative competing in the 2024 Paris Paralympics starting on the 28th of this month, will also compete as an expectant mother. By the end of this month, when the competition takes place, she is expected to be 28 weeks pregnant.

In a recent interview with BBC, Greenham said, "I love every moment of my career and every moment as a mother," adding, "Not everyone can say it's possible, but I am lucky to be able to continue competing in this sport." She also evaluated, "The fact that someone supports pregnant athletes instead of saying 'pregnant women should not compete' is an important event showing how far we have come at the national level."

Jodie Greenham, the British compound archery national team member participating in the 2024 Paris Paralympics (Photo by herself on SNS)

This is not the first time a pregnant athlete has competed in the Olympics. There have been rare cases in the past where pregnant athletes participated in the Olympics. German archer Cornelia Pfohl competed in the early stages of pregnancy at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and won a bronze medal. She also participated in the 2004 Athens Olympics while pregnant with her second child. Dutch legendary equestrian athlete Janki van Grunsven competed at the 2004 Athens Olympics five months pregnant and won a gold medal.

There are also cases where domestic athletes have competed as pregnant women in international competitions and achieved results. Geum Ji-hyun, who won the silver medal in the 10m air rifle mixed event at this Olympics, gave birth to a daughter last year. She found out she was pregnant before the 2022 Cairo World Cup in Egypt and competed internationally in the early stages of pregnancy, securing a quota spot for the Paris Olympics. Last year, she also attracted attention by competing in a domestic shooting competition while heavily pregnant. Although there were harsh views toward pregnant athletes, she reportedly stood firm with the goal of balancing work and family life.

2024 Paris Olympics Shooting National Team Member Geum Ji-hyun
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Changed Perceptions of Pregnant Athletes Competing in the Olympics

Until about a decade ago, pregnancy among female athletes was perceived as the end of their athletic career, leading to cases where athletes underwent abortions to compete. In 1968, the Soviet Union caused controversy by aborting female gymnasts ahead of the Olympics. American track athlete Sanya Richards-Ross, who won gold in the 1600m relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, revealed in 2017 that she had an abortion two weeks before the Olympics.

However, the atmosphere has changed significantly in recent years. 'Working mom' athletes who returned to the Olympic arena after childbirth are not only active in competitions but also voicing that female athletes should not have to give up personal life events such as pregnancy and childbirth for sports.

Emma Terho, a former Finnish hockey player and chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission, declared, "Pregnancy should not mark the end of an athlete's career," and Allison Felix, a former American sprinter who won seven Olympic gold medals and serves as an IOC athlete representative, emphasized in a broadcast interview, "Women can be at their best even after becoming mothers, and they don't have to miss a moment."

Park In-bi, the 'Korean golf queen' running for the IOC Athletes' Commission, is campaigning at the Paris Olympics as a mother pregnant with her second child. Park, who married professional golfer Nam Ki-hyeop in 2014, announced her pregnancy in 2022 and gave birth to her first daughter in April last year. Although she has not competed since the 2022 AIG Women's Open in August, she is meeting athletes across the Olympic venues to campaign for the athlete commission. It is reported that she is emphasizing her identity as a working mom and national representative athlete.

'Korean Golf Queen' Park In-bee (far left in the photo) challenging for the IOC Athletes' Commission [Image source=Yonhap News]

At this Olympics, British shooting national representative Amber Rutter competed just three months after giving birth. In a recent interview with Sky Sports, she said, "There are definitely difficulties. Every mother can relate, and one of them is not getting enough sleep." Nevertheless, she added, "This competition is completely different. The reason for competing has changed," and said, "Now I compete not only for myself but for my son, and that can serve as an example to other female athletes in different sports that both are possible."

Is It Safe for Pregnant Athletes to Compete in the Olympics?

Some concerns have been raised about the potential negative impact on the health of both the mother and fetus when pregnant athletes compete in the Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not have specific regulations regarding female athletes competing while pregnant. As the proportion of female athletes among Olympic participants continues to increase and the age range of competitors overlaps with the average fertile period, there are calls for research related to this issue.

Previously, in 2016, the IOC convened a panel of 16 medical and scientific experts in Lausanne, Switzerland, for a three-day meeting to discuss the relationship between pregnancy, childbirth, and exercise among elite athletes. At that time, they concluded that there was a serious lack of evidence-based data regarding the effects of pregnancy, childbirth, and exercise on female elite athletes, as well as the health impacts on mothers and fetuses.

This means there is no clear evidence supporting the perception that pregnancy and childbirth negatively affect female athletes. While it is generally recommended to maintain active physical activity, including exercise, during pregnancy and postpartum, there is a lack of data and research on how more than four hours of high-intensity exercise per day affects pregnant athletes who have been exercising regularly.