Swimming After Giving Birth

Angel Martino --spelling there... She had a baby a few years ago and posted some awesome times in the Master's meets that followed. Not many women stay in US Swimming after a having a baby, I think this past Olympics there was a female from Europe who has a child and she competed and did very well --made finals in her events, however I can‘t remember her name or country. I suppose that the level of training needed takes away from being a Mom. However, like the females swimming past 25 years old, I would think swimming competitively after having a baby would be next on the barriers to broken down.. just found this on the web: Hayley Lewis Swimmer Stats Name: Hayley Lewis Country: AUS State: QLD Club: Commercial SC Inc Born: 74 Height: 170 Weight: 61Kg Place of birth: Brisbane Occupation: Athlete/Mother Coach: Glenda Radley/John Carew Interests: Family, reading, movies Highlights PROFILE: Produced the most satisfying performance of her long and decorated career, to win bronze in the 5km Open Water World Championship at the 9th Fina World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan on July 16 - 10 years after winning her only world title, the 200m freestyle, in Perth, at the age of 16. Now the 27-year-old mother is swimming better than she has ever swum. Returned to the pool after becoming a mother to qualify for her third successive Olympic Games team by winning the 800m freestyle at trials last year.Finished 13th in the 800m freestyle ( 8:38.75 ) event at the 2000 Olympic Games.Has continued her successful Open water swimming career by winning the 5km and 10km events at the trials in March this year.Finished 11th 5km Fina Open Water Championships, Hawaii, Nov 2000. Former world champion, 200m freestyle; dual medallist at the 1992 Olympics and seven time Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Previous: Lewis confirmed her successful comeback to competition earlier last year after winning the Australian Open Water 5km. The Barcelona Games silver (800m free) and bronze medallist (400m free) Winner of five gold medals, 1990 Commonwealth Games, Auckland - 400IM, 200,400m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x200m freestyle relay; ABC Sports Star of the Year 1990; World champion, 200m freestyle; silver 400m freestyle, 400 IM, bronze 200m butterfly, 1991 World Championships, Perth Silver (800m freestyle) and bronze medallist (400m freestyle) 1992 Olympics, Barcelona; Gold 400m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle; silver 800m freestyle, 200m butterfly, bronze 400m individual medley, 1994 Commonwealth Games, Victoria, Canada; Silver 800m freestyle, 1994 World Championships, Rome; Represented Australia 1996 Atlanta Olympics and did not final; Retired to dabble in triathlon; Made her competitive comeback at the 2000 Qantas World Cup in Sydney 1st 800m freestyle (8:35.56), third 400 IM, Telstra 2000 Selection Trials Another thought is to see if any triathletes have been successful and a athlete and Mom...

Here is an article on Haley from Australian swimming: www.swimming.org.au/.../news_item.cfm

I think the key is whether the woman continued to swim at the same level during and immediately after her pregnancy - so many of us have to put other life obligations first and then lose the conditioning and muscle we worked so hard for. Sandy Nielson Bell is another female athlete who comes to my mind as someone who had a family and continued to swim at the same speed and level she did in international competition, so she didn't lost her speed. But she never stopped training. I am interested to see now that there is more opportunity to train for adult athletes, especially women, just how good we can be - I personally think we haven't begun to scratch the surface of potential - just look at the times in the 40-50 year old age groups for women - smokin!

this could be a totally stupid question.... how "hard" could a woman who is "with child" actually practice? i haven't had kids yet... someday we will... but i was just wondering... when i am pregnant someday... how much can i swim in the pool? S.

Bearing a child and birthing is as demanding a life event as there is..I can not imagine a mother whom would really be that interested in competive swimming as to actually participation. the child and its birth and health is formost in mind . Now I guess later on a swimmer could regain the former physical condition..but whos really got the time for competive swim training with a new born??? Or toddler?? Swimming for exercise is one thing.. serious competition is another. It could be done but the money pocket for the baby sitter has got to be deep. And there must be time sent with the child no matter what!

I am a mom to 4 children, 11,7,4 and 4 months. I hadn't swam in 18 years and hopped in the pool when this last baby was 4 weeks old. I swim at 5:30 in the morning when my family and baby is sleeping so not to take away any of my time with them. I was a 55 100 freestyler but distance was my thing 5:08 500 free. I am no where near my previous ability but can swim the 100 in 1:20 despite being 90lbs over my swim weight and only having swam for 3 months. I think the body is capable of a lot more than we give it credit for. You just have to be willing to put in the time and enegy. I am swimming to lose weight but am going to my first masters meet in February. I plan to be the fastest fat girl at the meet! (hoping to find a speedo that fits!!). I don't care if I'm first or last, I just want my children to know that you can do anything you want to. I can only get faster from here! I can't wait to hear my kids yelling for me...what a complete turn-around from my constant cheering for them.

My granddaugher swims on the a team Angel use to be associated with. Last fall, Angel was at an age group meet. Trying to explain her accomplishments to a 5 year old, we told my granddaughter that Angel had won 1st place at a meet where swimmers from all over the world had competed. My granddaughter went up to Angel and asked, "Are you really the fastest swimmer in the world?" Angel laughed and said, "Yes I was once, but not any more." It was just so sweet and wonderful to see a little one in awe of a great athlete and the athlete be so humble and down to earth. Lainey

Originally posted by USMSarah this could be a totally stupid question.... how "hard" could a woman who is "with child" actually practice? i haven't had kids yet... someday we will... but i was just wondering... when i am pregnant someday... how much can i swim in the pool? S. Good question! I am currently over 5 months pregnant. I have tried to continue to swim through the whole pregnancy but due to weight loss that my doctor didn't like, I was put on restrictions. First 3 hours a week, then 1 hour a week, now I'm finally back up to 2 hours a week (yea). This is a huge drop from my 4.5 hours a week I was doing as late as August. I competed at LC Nationals while pregnant and did personal bests in 3 out of my 5 events. I was only slightly off on the other 2. In practice now I try to swim at 90% most of the time with small breaks to let my heart rate come down a bit. I do watch my heart rate, though. After all the time out of the water recently, I am only a few seconds off my pre-pregnancy 100 free time in practice. So, pregnant women can practice very close to top form while pregnant, with doctor's okay. We did have a swimmer who was back in practice 6 days after giving birth. She swam the entire 9 months and competed only a few months after giving birth. It can be done.

lapswimmr: In my USMS experience, the vast majority of swimmers, who are married, have children, many quite young. In my lane at practice, we have a total of 5 swimmers with 8 children, all under 5. Almost all of us compete. Go to a USMS meet someday and look at the family support, often times you will see more than a few strollers on the deck. Pooch1 is a great example. You might not be able to image it, but there are tons of competitive women swimmers with young, very young children.

aquageek.. I took the thread to be serious racing swimming training like Olympics teams. 4 or more hours a day.. . Not USMS ...I have swam with lots of lots of masters swimmers.. Its exercise and fun.. No problem with that after the babys born and things are settled down. Of course a mother can swim with USMS , its the best exercise there is.