Alyce Wood, world champion and Australian Olympic kayaker, has gained the spotlight for her recent athletic success. She’s made headlines for her motivating story as a mom. It’s how she made it onto the Australian team set to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her daughter, Florence, was just 18 months old at the time. Wood’s determination culminated in a bronze medal win at the Paris Olympics, showcasing her ability to juggle motherhood and elite sportsmanship effectively.
Now retired from competitive kayaking, Wood reflects on her athletic career, her struggles and their impact. As the mother of two daughters, Florence and Maeve, she looks back on her wins in her long path to pregnancy. At the time when Wood was selected to be part of the Paris Games, she was expecting her first child. So she could begin considering, for one thing, how she might come back. Both of her journeys as a player and a mom have deeply informed her scholarship that centers the space where motherhood meets high-performance athletics.
A Journey of Resilience
Alyce Wood’s initial commitment to long distance running never lacked with Alyce Wood. “They just trained through, there was no support, there was no financial backing,” Wood stated, shedding light on the struggles faced by female athletes, particularly during motherhood. Her mother-in-law competed as an Olympian in the 1996 Olympics while raising her two-year-old. This wonderful opportunity is a reminder of the legacy of female athletes who have tackled and successfully overcome the same challenges.
Wood made improvised fitness work during pregnancy. Alongside these efforts, she was an author on important studies that advanced our understanding of the most important aspects of athletic health in this pivotal period. “We looked at things like how I was able to hold on to my fitness, my blood levels moving through, my flexibility, things like that,” she explained. Her participation in this important university study is just one way Wagner hopes to help pave the way for future generations of female athletes.
Time and again, Wood’s journey proves that being a mother and an athlete at the highest level is not impossible. “I had a baby and came back stronger and faster than I’d ever been before, and there’s got to be something in that,” she remarked. We hope that these experiences will provide inspiration for other women looking to pursue their family and sports dreams.
Growing Support for Athlete Mothers
The past few years have seen a growing awareness and discussion in how to better support mothers in sports. Olympic cycling champion Anna Meares shone a light on the cultural and systemic changes required in the wake of that decision. “Motherhood and high-performance careers can co-exist and we want to be able to further support that,” Meares stated. Asics largely echoed what many female athletes would say if given the chance to express their sentiment. They work to shatter ceilings and change the narrative around motherhood in the competitive sports arena.
Former Australian sports minister Mark Arbib expressed similar sentiments in 2011 when his government introduced direct financial support for athletes. “We’re not arguing that this is going to solve every financial problem of an Olympian, but we are making a contribution,” he noted. This continued conversation on offering up cash incentives is leading to a more inclusive space for mothers who are athletes.
The statistics underscore the urgency of this initiative. “70 percent of our summer Olympians compete at one Games,” Meares pointed out. This underscores the critical importance of support systems. We need these systems to support women athletes in maximizing their athletic careers and life as a mother.
A Vision for Future Generations
As Wood looks back on her journey, she does so with hope. She hopes that with all her experiences, she can pave a better road for future female athletes. “Hopefully I play a very small part [in building knowledge], but hopefully in 10 years’ time, there’s a lot more females doing this and a lot more knowledge,” she expressed. Her experience can help lead to a day when parenthood no longer presents a barrier to competitive achievement for mothers.
Even beyond this, Wood sees the need for a broader change in societal attitudes toward motherhood and athletics. “We need to be able to put those role models in place to show women that it can be done and there is a support network in place for you to be able to do it,” Meares added, emphasizing the importance of representation.
Reflecting on these changes, Wood stated, “It shows a commitment that people are starting to look at female athletes, mum athletes and see that we can help support the Olympic team and the Olympic movement.” More initiatives are starting to support athlete mothers. It’s become clear they can be great parents and competitors.
