London Mail
  • Home
  • World
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Motering/Cars
  • More
    • Entertainment
    • Travel
    • Crypto
    • Food
    • Home Improvment
      • Real Estate
    • Press Release
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Motering/Cars
  • More
    • Entertainment
    • Travel
    • Crypto
    • Food
    • Home Improvment
      • Real Estate
    • Press Release
No Result
View All Result
London Mail
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports

‘I won’t be shamed to stop climbing, even if it’s just days until I give birth’

by London Mail
August 2, 2024
in Sports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

I’ve got a team of specialists supporting me. I started working with a women’s health physiotherapist at eight weeks pregnant, to know that what I was doing was safe for me and safe for my baby. 

I didn’t even know what the parameters were around exercise during pregnancy, so wanted to work with someone that could keep an eye on my body so if anything did go wrong, we were being very proactive. (And by ‘go wrong’ I mean from a physiological perspective, not from a falling perspective – I’ve climbed a lot in my career without falling off.) 

I’ve also worked with my team who were by my side throughout the Olympics and communicated with my midwives and my doctors.

I’ve made huge adjustments to how I climb too. I’m not doing any big dynamic movements and there’s always options for me to back off or come down safely. My husband has been supporting me throughout too. I think a lot of people have questioned why he’s seen spotting me, if I’m so confident I’m not going to fall, but he’s actually there to give me a little extra boost if I need it rather than as a spotter. He’s very aware of what I’m physically capable of.

What people see me doing, in their head, they perceive as difficult because it might be for them. That’s been one of the trickiest things to get across: I’m doing maybe five per cent of the amount of climbing I was doing in the lead up to Tokyo. These climbs aren’t hard for me.

‘This is about athletes breaking down stereotypes and the taboo’

I’ve seen so many friends of mine go through pregnancy and keep climbing – some literally climbed until the day they gave birth. They’ve all made different choices because every pregnancy is different. There’s athletes like Rachel Atherton, who was riding a mountain bike well into her pregnancy and doing it unapologetically. That inspired me. 

I think it’s so hard for people to understand where her comfort zone lies, because she’s an elite athlete, and this is especially true in non-traditional, often considered ‘extreme sports’ like ours.

I had no idea what my pregnancy would be like and was curious to know whether I’d still get any satisfaction from climbing because for as long as I can remember I’ve found that in pushing my limits – not pottering around doing easy climbs. But it’s been incredibly refreshing to reconnect with the sport in a way that I’d kind of lost.

I’m not surprised I’m still climbing with just days until my due date. I’m a bit more tired than usual, I can only do about an hour max these days, but I’m surprised how good I still feel. My body needs that movement, as does my mind.

This is about athletes breaking down stereotypes and the taboo. I’ve received thousands of messages supporting me and many from women reaching out who have actually kept climbing because of seeing my posts. That alone makes all the judgment and hate worth it.

Source link

Related Posts

Aussie sporting legend is unrecognisable after shocking accident saw him hospitalised with serious injuries
Sports

Aussie sporting legend is unrecognisable after shocking accident saw him hospitalised with serious injuries

August 5, 2025
Lakers star Luka Doncic signs $165M extension in move that could have huge LeBron James implications
Sports

Lakers star Luka Doncic signs $165M extension in move that could have huge LeBron James implications

August 2, 2025
Indiana Fever fans criticize Caitlin Clark as she plays soccer while sidelined with groin injury
Sports

Indiana Fever fans criticize Caitlin Clark as she plays soccer while sidelined with groin injury

July 30, 2025
Next Post
Global stock markets plunge amid fears of US ‘collapse’

Global stock markets plunge amid fears of US 'collapse'

Two children saved from car fire by a quick-thinking hero who smashed the windows with his golf club

Two children saved from car fire by a quick-thinking hero who smashed the windows with his golf club

Sales of iPhone fall to three-year low as Apple’s popularity drops in China

Sales of iPhone fall to three-year low as Apple's popularity drops in China

Recommended

Twitter verifies far-right group Britain First with gold tick

Twitter verifies far-right group Britain First with gold tick

2 years ago
Pensioners encouraged to apply for benefits in new Government campaign

Pensioners encouraged to apply for benefits in new Government campaign

11 months ago
Is this the ultimate paradise getaway? Inside Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands… to find out how billionaires like to holiday

Is this the ultimate paradise getaway? Inside Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands… to find out how billionaires like to holiday

5 months ago
Diane Abbott is set to have Labour whip reinstated on condition she doesn’t stand for party at General Election as pressure mounts on Keir Starmer to explain why no action was taken for five months following race row probe

Diane Abbott is set to have Labour whip reinstated on condition she doesn’t stand for party at General Election as pressure mounts on Keir Starmer to explain why no action was taken for five months following race row probe

1 year ago

Categories

  • Business
  • Crypto
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Health
  • Home Improvment
  • Lifestyle
  • Motering/Cars
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Press Release
  • Real Estate
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • World
No Result
View All Result

Highlights

Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical is a fun but frantic summer night out | Theatre | Entertainment

Private chef to the Premier League reveals exactly what the players eat to get them ‘match fit’

Boss of world’s richest travel firm suggests lotteries in popular destinations to combat overtourism

Master expert’s ‘perfect’ homemade chilli by adding one cheap ingredient

Aldi worker shares clever way to get up to 75 percent off its supermarket food

Aussie sporting legend is unrecognisable after shocking accident saw him hospitalised with serious injuries

London Mail

London Mail | Stay Informed, Stay Inspired ©2025, All rights Reserved

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tech
  • News
  • Business
  • Science
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Opinion

London Mail | Stay Informed, Stay Inspired ©2025, All rights Reserved