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July 1, 2021
Breastfeeding athletes will be allowed to bring their infants to the Tokyo Olympics following considerable backlash regarding strict regulations. For working mothers, balancing professional responsibilities and childcare can be challenging. When your profession is that of a world-class athlete and you’re also breastfeeding, the situation becomes even more complex. Initially, athletes were told they would have to leave their nursing babies at home due to stringent Covid-19 guidelines. However, the response from athlete mothers was significant, prompting organizers to reconsider their policies.
Originally, athletes were informed that no family members or friends could accompany them to the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In light of the public outcry—and possibly the risk of athletes opting not to compete rather than be separated from their children—organizers finally agreed to make an exception. “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,” announced the Olympic Committee.
Before this announcement, American marathon runner Mia Johnson expressed her distress about potentially being separated from her 5-month-old daughter. “I had been trying to avoid thinking about not having Zoe with me in Tokyo, but I had to face it during team processing last week, and I’ve cried a lot since,” she said. “I know it’s just for 10 days, and she’ll be fine, but I can’t imagine being away from her for even half a day.”
Canadian basketball player and breastfeeding mom, Sarah Mitchell, shared her heartfelt concerns on social media. Holding her baby Sophie, Mitchell articulated how she had always dreamed of representing her country at the Olympics, yet the strict rules placed her in a painful dilemma. “Right now, I’m forced to choose between being a breastfeeding mother or an Olympic athlete,” she lamented. With a commitment of at least 28 days away, she was advised to pump as much milk as possible before the Games, but she didn’t see that as a feasible option, nor did using a pump in Tokyo to ship milk back home to Canada seem practical. Ultimately, she concluded that the only viable solution was to bring her daughter along.
Fortunately, the organizers recognized their oversight and adjusted the policy. This raises questions about why this option wasn’t considered sooner or why Mitchell’s appeals went unheard for so long. As she remarked in her video plea, “It’s 2021—let’s normalize working moms.”
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Summary:
The Tokyo Olympics organizers have decided to allow breastfeeding athletes to bring their infants to the Games after facing significant backlash regarding previous restrictions. Athletes like Mia Johnson and Sarah Mitchell expressed their concerns about being separated from their babies, leading to a change in policy that acknowledges the unique challenges faced by nursing mothers. This decision highlights the ongoing conversation about supporting working moms in various fields, including athletics.