Dame Laura Kenny, Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, recently shared a heartwarming announcement—she’s expecting her third child with husband and fellow Olympian, Jason Kenny.
The joyful news, revealed on Instagram on New Year’s Eve, marks a beautiful new chapter for the couple following years of fertility struggles.
Laura posted a touching video featuring her children wearing T-shirts that read, “I’m going to be a big brother to a baby.”
She captioned the post, “2024 was wonderful, 2025 is going to be even more special.”
The Struggles Behind the Medals
For Laura, this pregnancy is especially meaningful after a challenging journey with fertility.
As Britain’s most successful female athlete with five gold medals and a silver, Laura admitted her intense training regimen might have taken a toll on her body.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today program, she reflected on the challenges of transitioning from being in peak physical control to facing the uncertainty of pregnancy loss.
In 2021, Laura experienced a miscarriage, followed by an ectopic pregnancy just months later—a life-threatening condition requiring emergency surgery.
“I went from being so in control of my body to being completely out of control,” she shared.
“Was my body running on empty? It felt like it was saying, ‘There’s no way we can do this.’”
Navigating Loss and Finding Hope
Despite these hardships, Laura found the strength to keep moving forward.
In July 2023, she welcomed her second son, Monty, a moment that reshaped her perspective on life and sport.
Yet, the pain of past losses lingered.
During an interview with Women’s Health, she described how those experiences changed her priorities. “All I wanted was a baby.
I didn’t care about gold medals or the Commonwealth Games—I just wanted a baby, and it wasn’t happening.”
Other athletes reached out to share similar experiences, sparking discussions about whether elite sports could impact fertility.
Experts like Dr. Emma O’Donnell from Loughborough University explained that the intense physical demands of professional training could disrupt menstrual cycles, potentially complicating pregnancy.
Balancing Motherhood and an Athletic Career
Laura’s journey hasn’t just been about fertility challenges—it’s also been about balancing the demands of elite sport with motherhood.
After giving birth to her first son, Albie, in 2017, she struggled with the sacrifices required to compete at the highest level.
Recalling the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Laura admitted, “Leaving Albie at home due to Covid protocols was heart-wrenching.
I’m not a crier, but he remembers me crying when I had to leave.
It felt like someone ripped my heart out.”
By 2023, Laura decided to retire from professional cycling, prioritizing her family.
She explained, “Monty completely changed my mindset.
I couldn’t leave him for training because all I wanted was to be with him.”
A New Perspective
Looking back, Laura acknowledges that the challenges she faced reshaped her as a person and athlete.
She also opened up about the emotional toll on her husband, Jason, admitting she hadn’t initially realized how deeply the losses affected him.
“No one asked him how he was doing,” she said.
“It wasn’t until much later that he could talk about how hard it had been for him too.”
Now, with a growing family and a renewed sense of purpose, Laura and Jason are ready to embrace the next chapter of their lives together.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn