Marathon runner Aliphine Tuliamuk faced a tough decision before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She couldn’t imagine traveling without her six-month-old daughter, Zoe. The Tokyo Games, held amid a pandemic, posed unique challenges for athletes like Tuliamuk. Despite this, she ensured her family accompanied her, though they couldn’t stay in the athletes’ village due to restrictions.
The separation from her baby on the first night was distressing. Tuliamuk, an American runner born in Kenya, recounted pumping breast milk while thinking of Zoe, who was crying at the hotel with her father. This experience highlights the need for better provisions for nursing mothers at sporting events.
Looking forward, Tuliamuk is optimistic about the new facilities at Paris 2024, which include a dedicated space for children in the athletes’ village. “I’m so happy that things have changed to support mothers like me,” she said.
Paris 2024 is set to offer more support to nursing mothers and their children. This change comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Paris 2024 organizers recognized the challenges faced by athlete mothers. They created a space where mothers can breastfeed, pump, and store milk, along with diaper-changing facilities and play areas. If National Olympic Committees (NOCs) agree to fund it, overnight accommodation will also be available outside the village.
Emma Terho, chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, said the goal is to improve the athlete experience continually. “We want athletes to concentrate on competing without worrying about their children’s care,” she explained.
However, past Olympic events lacked such support. Tuliamuk described her difficulties at the Sapporo marathon site in 2021. A last-minute start time change left her without a place to express milk at the hotel. “I had to go to the starting line without pumping. There was no private tent for breastfeeding,” she recalled.
The push for better facilities has been driven by athletes themselves. Allyson Felix, a retired 200-meter Olympic champion, and French judo star Clarisse Agbegnenou have been vocal advocates. Felix, now on the board of directors for the advocacy group &Mother, helped spearhead the initiative.
American runner Alysia Montano, founder of &Mother, is another advocate for better conditions for athlete mothers. Montano, who ran a race while eight months pregnant, highlighted the lack of support for women in sports. “I wanted to show that women can continue their careers even after having children,” she said.
Montano’s organization fights for better contracts and sponsorships for mothers. She shared her experience of balancing training and breastfeeding, including pumping milk and sending it back to her daughter while traveling. “There’s no system supporting this, making it difficult for athlete mothers,” she noted.
Paris 2024 is a significant step forward, but more work is needed. Funding the overnight accommodation is a challenge, as NOCs need to cover these costs. Terho said the IOC is considering future support, depending on the uptake in Paris.
Montano hopes that future Olympics, like Los Angeles 2028, will provide even better support. “We need safe lactation spaces at stadiums and in warm-up areas. It’s crucial for mothers to have these facilities,” she emphasized.
Tuliamuk, recovering from an injury that prevents her from competing in Paris 2024, looks forward to LA 2028. She hopes to have the necessary support if she welcomes another child by then. “Having your baby with you allows you to be the best version of yourself,” she said. “When mothers are fully supported, they can achieve incredible things.”
The progress made for Paris 2024 is promising, but ongoing efforts are needed to ensure that all athlete mothers receive the support they deserve. By continuing to advocate for better facilities and support systems, the sports community can help mothers balance their careers and family lives effectively.
Source: Ghana Web
