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Lactating Rooms For Nursing Olympians: Breaking Barriers For Athlete Mommies

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Zahirah

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6 months ago

Lactating Rooms For Nursing Olympians: Breaking Barriers For Athlete Mommies
Story behind it

“Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all.” That’s the theme for 2024 Breastfeeding Week and that’s exactly what we are witnessing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. While the whole world is captivated by the remarkable performances of the athletes, there’s one more thing that has evoked widespread admiration and awe. For the first time in history, the Olympic Village is going to have a dedicated nursery for breastfeeding athletes. Launched by 11-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix, the nursery offers a safe and comfortable space for athlete mommies to bond with their kids and nurse them. Read more.

Supporting Athletes Who Are Mothers

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    Following your dreams doesn’t mean that you have to stop being a mother, even if your dream is to compete at the Olympics. It takes immense strength and dedication to be a mother and it takes the same to be an athlete as well. It can be challenging to excel both but it’s never impossible. With proper support, one can ace in both arenas and achieve greatness on and off the field. This innovative, rather revolutionary step not only supports the athletes but also sends a strong message to the world by challenging age-old stereotypes. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest strides that goes unprecedented in the history of the Olympics. 

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    “It’s a message, you know, sending, really shifting the culture that women can have incredible performance after childbirth and that they should be supported.” shared Allyson Felix, in an interview with USA Today.

    Allyson Felix, The Name Behind The Idea

    Allyson Felix is the most decorated female Olympian in track and field with 11 medals to the name. After her retirement, Felix became a part of the Athletes’ Commission at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where she actively advocates for athlete moms. Speaking about the Olympic Village Nursery in an interview, she explained, “It's childcare. It's here so that mothers and families feel supported. Having some normalcy is great, just to have an actual space dedicated for this.”

    Felix, who is a mother of 2 herself, talked about the challenges of returning to the competition with her daughter and not having her family around to assist her. "It was even hard in ways I didn't expect, like staying in hotels, washing bottles, all the things you have to bring, feeding your baby in stadiums, who's going to watch your baby. It was challenging, but I had a lot of learnings of how things can be better." she shared.

    What the athletes have to say about Olympic Village Nursery

    U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings 

    “Just the fact that we as women are having a moment in sports. Like there is no turning back, you know, and I love that the stories they’re telling about the women are of different interests. It’s not just about the competition, but it’s about who they are as humans and what we offer the world.” told Kerri Walsh Jennings to USA Today. 

    U.S. Marathon Runner Aliphine Tuliamuk

    "I was so engorged. I was pumping and thinking 'My baby is not even here with me' - then I called them and she was crying, losing her mind because she didn't understand why her mum is not there." shared U.S. marathon runner Aliphine Tuliamuk with BBC, recalling her experience from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when she had to spend the night without her 6-month-old in the Athlete’s Village. "I am just so happy that in only four years from when I couldn't be with my baby, it's now changed to where they have facilities for them. That is pretty incredible." she added

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    French Judo Star Clarisse Agbegnenou 

    In an interview with Olympics.com in 2023 French Judoka Clarisse shared "It hurts me to hear people saying 'We can do only one thing at a time', 'You can’t evolve in your job' or 'You can’t be a high-level athlete' while being a mum.” During her qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, she used to stop for quick feeding breaks to nurse her daughter in the judo hall.

    Olympics and Breastfeeding Week are two seemingly unrelated events that have come together in a surprising way, thanks to the International Olympics Committee. "This is a shift in culture," shared Felix in her interview. "It's saying that motherhood isn't the end. If you choose to be a mother in the midst of your career, you can still go and have incredible performances." What do you think?

     

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