Pregnancy in Elite Sports: What Athletes, Coaches, and Clubs Should Know

For a long time, pregnancy and elite sport were seen as things that don’t go together. But today, many athletes want to do both — continue their careers and have a family.

The truth is: being pregnant doesn’t mean the end of a sports career. But to make that possible, athletes need support, understanding, and good planning — and many clubs and organizations are not yet ready to provide that.

Let’s break down what this really means, and how we can do better.

1. Why Pregnancy in Sport Is Still So Hard to Talk About

Even though more women in sport are having children, many athletes still feel they have to hide their pregnancy because:

• They fear losing contracts or selection opportunities.

• They worry that coaches and teams will stop believing in them.

• There are no clear rules on how to take maternity leave and return safely.

  
  

⚠️ Result? Many athletes train and compete longer than they should while pregnant, risking injury or complications.

2. What Happens to the Body During and After Pregnancy (And Why It Matters for Sport)

Pregnancy changes the body massively — in ways that impact performance:

• Hormones loosen joints and ligaments, making injury more likely.

• The core and pelvic floor muscles are stretched and weakened.

• Balance, speed, and endurance are reduced.

• After birth, recovery takes months, and everyone heals at different speeds.

  
  

🏋️‍♀️ Pushing too fast = risk of injury, burnout, and long-term health problems.

3. What Are the Main Challenges Athletes Face?

❌ Lack of support from clubs and sponsors:

• No maternity policies in contracts.

• No return-to-sport plans.

• No medical or mental health support.

  
  

❌ Fear of judgment and stigma:

• Coaches might see pregnant athletes as “weak” or “done.”

• Fear of being replaced or forgotten.

  
  

❌ Physical and emotional challenges:

• Body doesn’t feel the same.

• Tiredness, pain, and loss of confidence.

• Pressure to “bounce back” fast.

4. What Every Club and Coach Should Know (If You Really Care About Women in Sport)

👉 Pregnancy is not a career end. It’s a life phase.

Here’s how to support athletes properly:

✅ 1. Respect and protect contracts.

• Guarantee maternity leave with pay.

• Protect their spot in the team.

• Support their return like you would after an injury.

  
  

✅ 2. Provide real medical care.

• Pelvic floor physiotherapists.

• Sports doctors who know pregnancy.

• Mental health support (for anxiety, postpartum depression, identity loss).

  
  

✅ 3. Adjust training safely.

• Modify training to protect health.

• Respect fatigue, symptoms, and body limits.

• No pressure to perform while recovering.

  
  

✅ 4. Change the culture.

• Talk openly about pregnancy and sport.

• Celebrate role models who are athlete-moms (like Serena Williams, Allyson Felix, Alex Morgan).

• Normalize the conversation — not hide it.

5. Coming Back: What “Return to Sport” Should Look Like

✳️ Step 1: Healing and Recovery (0-8 weeks after birth)

• Rest, gentle movement, start pelvic floor rehab.

  
  

✳️ Step 2: Rebuilding (8 weeks to 6 months)

• Gradual strength and cardio.

• Focus on core, pelvic floor, and basic fitness.

  
  

✳️ Step 3: Sport-specific Training (6 months and beyond)

• Return to running, jumping, agility, team drills.

• Mental support for confidence and readiness.

  
  

⏳ Each athlete is different. There is no fixed timeline — just like no injury heals the same for everyone.

6. Real Talk: What Athletes Need to Hear

• You are not alone — more women are doing this now than ever before.

• You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.

• Your body deserves respect and time to heal.

• Being a mother makes you strong — not weak.

7. What Sport Can Learn from Athlete-Mothers

• Better understanding of real life challenges.

• Stronger human connections in teams.

• Role models for younger girls — showing that sport and life can go together.

• More loyalty — when athletes are supported, they give back to the team.

Final Word

💥 Pregnancy in elite sports is not a problem — it’s an opportunity for sport to grow up. 

💥 If we want more women in sports, we need to support every part of their lives — including motherhood. 

💥 Athletes are whole people, not just machines for medals.

If you’re an athlete, coach, or club and want help creating maternity policies or return-to-sport plans, RIZE can help. Let's build a better system together. 💙🏆