Just last week, Canadian basketball player Kim Gaucher would have to unfortunately choose between continuing her lifelong dreams of going to the Olympics or staying home to breastfeed her child. The decision, which is reminiscent of how the realm of sports oft-neglects accommodations for female athletes, would be a tough one for a player eager to seize her pandemic-postponed Olympic moment. However, following a policy revision on Wednesday, Gaucher and other nursing mothers will no longer have to brace those crossroads.
“It is inspiring that so many athletes with young children are able to continue competing at the highest levels, including at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we are committed to doing everything possible to enable them to perform at the Tokyo 2020 Games,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement via ABC News. “After careful consideration of the unique situation facing athletes with nursing children, we are pleased to confirm that, when necessary, nursing children will be able to accompany athletes to Japan.” All nursing children will stay in approved hotels in the Olympic Village which is restricted to athletes and team officials.
The news comes after Gaucher amassed support on Instagram last Thursday as she raised concerns regarding the Olympics’ COVID-19 protocols that barred families from attending. As Grazia has previously reported, the International Olympic Committee has set forth an allowance for up to 50 percent of the venue’s capacity which caps off at 10,000 domestic-only spectators. “All I’ve ever wanted out of my basketball career has been to rep Canada at the Olympics,” Gaucher said in a video while holding her three-month-old daughter, Sophie. “Right now, I’m being forced to decide between being a breastfeeding mom or an Olympic athlete. I can’t have them both.”
MOTHERHOOD
Now that we are into the final 6wks before my marathon at the #2020tokyoolympics I feel excited, but also torn. I have been working my butt off since having my daughter, I want to produce the best result possible, my long runs & workouts are coming together nicely pic.twitter.com/ulnFSRPgYW— Aliphine Tuliamuk (@mamaZoeCherotch) June 28, 2021
American long-distance runner Aliphine Tuliamuk also voiced how she was wrestling with the agonizing thoughts of having to leave her nursing daughter, Zoe, behind as the Games near. In an emotionally-riveting thread on Twitter, Tuliamuk wrote, “Now that we are into the final 6 weeks before my marathon at the #2020TokyoOlympics, I feel excited, but also torn.” She continued, “I know that I will be leaving her for only 10 days, and she will be just fine and that so many other moms have done the same, but I can’t even imagine being away from her half a day.”
