The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are really (ironically) heating up at the moment. And we’ve only just gotten started. As of day 14, Norway is in the lead with 15 gold, eight silver, and 11 bronze medals. Closely following is Germany with 10, seven, and five. In terms of the US team, Nathan Chen has just scooped the Olympic figure skating gold. Julia Marino has also nabbed the silver for the women's snowboard slopestyle.
It’s clear that 2022 is a stellar year for women and people of color particularly. Similarly, there are also tons of impressive moms competing this year who deserve all the love. Mothers are the queens of multitasking, and these moms are doing a terrific job of climbing the Olympic ladder while being awesome moms. So, who are they?
1. Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet
Biathlete Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, 29, has competed in the women's 7.5 km sprint and the mixed relay, and she has a wash of silver and bronze medals under her belt. As a wife and a mother of a 2½-year-old daughter, Anaïs is balancing home life and athleticism with power, grace, and appreciation.
"The Olympics is a goal I worked for and I want a medal.” Anaïs told Olympics.com. “But if I go home without it, it won't be the failure of my life because I have something else at home."
2. Dawn McEwen
Part of the 2022 Canadian curling team, Dawn McEwen is mother to daughters Vienna and Avalon. She debuted at the 2008 World Championship in Vernon, British Columbia, versus the Switzerland team, winning 6-3 as skip leader. Dawn was also voted the greatest Canadian female lead in history in a poll by The Sports Network (TSN) of top curlers and broadcasters. She has told the press over the years that her family has a massive influence on her and her achievements.
3. Elana Meyers Taylor
Elana Meyers Taylor is both a mother of a toddler and professional bobsledder. Having competed since 2007, Elana has won four gold medals since 2017. Her son, Nico, was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth, so Elana has been juggling her races with supporting his care.
"The coolest thing is that all of our therapists have been able to accommodate and work with my training and travel schedule as well." Elana told Parents.com. “We have a great life, and I wouldn't change Nico for one second."
4. Anna Ellinor Hasselborg
Former world junior champion skip, Anna Ellinor Hasselborg is a Swedish curler who is also the 2018 Winter Olympics women’s curling champion. Only three months after the birth of her daughter, Mira, Anna returned to curling to compete in the 2022 Winter Olympics. She told World Curling that the miracle of birth gave her motivation for Beijing: “I took it very slow in the beginning and really, really listened to my body, taking it step by step. There are so many amazing examples of what the women’s body can do. It is a miracle that I can give birth and go back to competing at the very highest level.”
5. Natalie Geisenberger
Four-time gold medalist Natalie Geisenberger is a luge master and mother of 2-year-old Leo. Natalie is not only the most decorated female luge athlete in Olympic history but also a student with the German Federal Police Sports School in Bad Endorf.
"I can be very proud of how it all went.” Natalie told Olympics.com, “Not only athletically, but that I am also suited as a mother.”
6. Sarah Schleper
Alpine skier Sarah Schleper has a 14-year-old son, Lasse, and a 9-year-old daughter. Her daughter, in fact, is named after Sarah’s teammate Resi Stiegler. She has four podium finishes, including a slalom win at the 2005 Ski World Cup Finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Having teenage and preteen children while having over 190 World Cup starts is no easy feat.
“Some have called me ‘Super Skier Super Mom’” Sarah states on her website. “My husband Federico and son Lasse' give me extraordinary drive to be the best athlete I can be while maintaining the balance to be the best wife and mom possible.”
7. Jennifer Jones
Canadian mom of two Jennifer Jones is another supermom with tons on her plate. As the fourth of the St. Vital Curling Club and a lawyer, Jennifer has her share of demanding priorities. Her daughters, Bella and Skyla, often join her from the audience in games, though you can’t take your kids everywhere as a sports player.
"It's hard to leave your kids as a mom.” Jennifer told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), “I miss them dearly. But Bella, what do you always tell me? She always says that because she's watched me do this, she can do anything." On February 17, the Canada vs. Denmark women’s tournament, Jennifer’s team won a 5-3 lead.
8. Rachel Homan
Curler Rachel Homan was eight months pregnant when she competed in the 2021 Tournament of Hearts. Before the games had even ended, she gave birth, took a three-week break, and returned to compete in two Grand Slams, winning her team a gold and silver medal in the process. As a mother, teacher, and an Olympian, Rachel obviously appreciates a challenge: “I’m primarily a high school teacher but with curling and [the health crisis], I’m all over the place, everything from kindergarten to grade 12. It’s fun to do different stuff.”
Sadly, Rachel feels that she “let everyone down” at Beijing this year after being defeated by the Italian team. However, who among us would ever call her performance a failure when she is essentially working three jobs all at once? Medals are great, but Rachel’s love for the sport and her family shine brighter than any golden disc.
