Sports women still choose between baby or career – Vicky Holland
In 2023, the British Sports Agency launched strengthening guidance so that pregnant athletes can rely on more and improved support and suggestions for fertility, diet and breastfeeding.
However, the British Sports Agency acknowledged that guidance needs to be applied to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
The statement said: “The British Sports Bureau firmly believes that supporting the family and becoming a elite athlete should not be mutually exclusive.”
“Therefore, we are committed to continuing to cooperate with athletes and sports to ensure that the guidelines are implemented as strong and comprehensive as possible.”
After giving birth to a child, Holland had to return to the top of the three races of the Iron Man because her ranking was not protected.
Her world ranking has become the top 200 in the top 200, and only the top 55 can automatically participate.
She said: “I spent a long time and a lot of competitions to try to collect some points, and then build my ranking.”
“It’s almost like you have been a manager in a store in the whole career, and then you return to pregnancy, you return to the basic salary, and you start the cashier again. You must work again.”
Since then, the World Iron Man has introduced a policy for elite athletes. Women can freeze their rankings from the moment they announce their pregnancy until their children are two years old.
The British Iron Man Tournament also formulated the longest two -year new pregnancy delay policy for its age group. These three non -professional ironmen athletes can participate in the British competition under the age of 19 to the age of 80.
As athlete representative, Holland, a member of the British Trinity Three Championships, welcomed this move.
“This means that they can come back at their time and still participate in the competition they are qualified to participate,” Holland said.
“This is really important.
“You should not expect women to give up their goals or ambitions in order to have a family.”
