As the world marks International Mother’s Day, Nation Sport focuses on the resilient women who juggle sporting careers with motherhood.
The training programme varies from sport to sport, but a typical day in the life of a mother who is an athlete involves morning runs, strenuous workout sessions in the field, running on the road or track, uphill and downhill runs, long-distance runs for endurance training, demanding gym sessions, physiotherapy sessions, and evening runs.
Yet these resilient mothers still return home and perform their roles as mothers. During competitions, they can be away from their children, some as young as a year and a half, for up to a month as they attend national team training camps, or travel abroad for competitions.
World record holder in 1,500m and 5,000m races Faith Kipyegon, accompanied by her daughter Alyn Jepkorir, 5, looks on as her father Samuel Kipyegon Koech, tries a new vehicle presented to him by Sultan Ali Rana (left), Chief Executive Officer of Rana Auto Selection Limited in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County on June 17, 2023.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
Multiple world and Olympics 1,500 metres champion Faith Kipyegon, 34, took maternity leave in 2017 and gave birth to her daughter Alyn in June 2018. Kipyegon, who has won three Olympics titles and four world titles, returned to competition in 2019 at the Doha World Athletics Championships.
Kenyan striker Judith Atieno in action during a league match. The 22-year-old turns out for Rwandan club Rayon Sports Women FC.
Photo credit: Pool
The first-ever Kenyan woman to play professional football in Rwanda, Atieno was the top scorer in the 2022/23 Rwanda Women Division One League with 43 goals in 21 matches. A product of Mathare Youth Sports Association, Atieno became a mother at a young age and has successfully juggled motherhood with sports. She left Mathare United in 2022 and joined Rayon Sport in 2022.
Hellen Obiri of Kenya celebrates on the podium while holding the Olympics mascot the Phryges during the women's marathon medal ceremony in Paris on August 11, 2024.
Photo credit: Lisa Leutner | Reuters
The Olympics marathon bronze medallist, 36, took maternity leave in 2014 and gave birth to her daughter, Tania Blessing Macheche, in 2015. Obiri, who is also the reigning New York City Marathon champion, returned to competition in 2016 and won silver medal in women’s in 5,000m at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Peres Jepchirchir, with their daughter Natalie Cherono.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
Reigning world marathon champion Jepchirchir, 32, took her maternity leave in 2016 and gave birth to her daughter, Natalia Cherono, in 2017. She returned to competition in 2018 and represented Kenya in various events, including at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where she won the marathon title.
Gladys Ekaru.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
She captained Kenya Pipeline to win the 2025 Kenya Volleyball Federation league title, and also led the team to win a bronze medal at the 2026 Africa Club Championships held in Cairo. She was in the Kenyan team that competed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
New mother Vivian Cheruiyot proudly cuddles baby Allan Kiprono. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Popularly known as ‘Pocket Rocket, Cheruiyot, 42, is a mother of two - Allan Kiprono and Arielle Jebiwott. She took maternity leave in May 2013 and opted not to compete in the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow. She returned to competition and won gold at the 2015 Beijing World Athletics Championships. She again took maternity leave in 2020 to give birth to her daughter and opted out of Team Kenya for the 2020 Olympics.
Carol Gatimu and her daughter, Tinashe Gatimu, were among the standout local crews at the 2026 World Rally Championship Safari Rally held in Naivasha from March 12-15. They competed in a Ford Fiesta car.
The women’s World Marathon Record Holder and also the Olympic Marathon Silver Medalist Brigid Kosgei trains at Nyaru in Elgeyo-Marakwet County on January 09, 2022.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
The 32-year-old marathoner Kosgei made her name in athletics after giving birth to twins Faith Chepchumba and Brian Kibet in 2014. She resumed training and broke the marathon world record in 2019, winning Chicago Marathon in 2:14:04. She has also won London Marathon, Tokyo Marathon and Chicago Marathon.
Former 800m world champion Janeth Jepkosgei during an interview at her home in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County on August 31, 2020.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
The 2007 World 800m champion took a maternity break in 2016 and opted out of the Kenyan team for the 2016 Olympics. She named her daughter Becky Olympia Jepchirchir because 2016 was an Olympic year in which she had intended to compete, but instead took a break. She is now an athletics coach.
Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce celebrates after winning the Women's 100m final at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on September 29, 2019.
Photo credit: File
The 39-year-old Jamaican is widely regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. In the 100m, she is a two-time Olympic gold medallist and a five-time world champion. In the 200m, she has won gold and silver at the World Athletics Championships, as well as an Olympic silver medal. She and her husband, Jason Pryce, have a son named Zyon, who was born in 2017.
