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For over a century, women have been at the Olympics, but it wasn’t until the 2024 Paris Olympics that The Games achieved gender parity. A major barrier still facing elite women athletes: Policies supporting pregnant athletes and athletes raising young children are lagging. 

There’s been some progress along the way. In 2022, after a number of high-profile Olympic athletes spoke out about their experiences losing sponsorships and health coverage, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee directed the National Governing Bodies of each sport to with certain protections for athletes during pregnancy and the postpartum period.  At the 2024 Paris Games, the first ever was created with dedicated space where athletes could spend time with there children, and private space for breastfeeding mothers. That was a big shift since children and family members of competing athletes are generally in the Olympic Village.

As the photographs below reveal, generations of mothers have competed while pregnant, or with their children cheering from the stands. The path to motherhood is often demanding in any context  — but for Olympians, who train and compete year-round, it can be especially taxing. Here’s a glimpse into the unique challenges facing Olympic moms. 

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