Fraser-Pyce the Blueprint: McLaughlin-Levrone and Chebet uplifting the story of embracing motherhood for female track runners

When Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce announced that she was pregnant and would not defend her title at the 2017 World Championships in London, many feared her retirement after becoming a mother. Interestingly, she publicly promised a major comeback.

Within five years after giving birth to her son Zyon, the Jamaican icon added two more world titles, elongated her career by four more years, before officially retiring after the World Championships in Tokyo last summer.

World and Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recently announced she's expecting her first child with her husband, Andre.

Likewise, Kenya's long-distance queen Beatrice Chebet, having had a terrific 2024 and 2025 season where she won gold medals in the 5000m and 10000m and set World Records in both distances, made known her decision to take time away from competition this year to focus on starting a family.

Seeing two of the biggest female athletics stars take the giant step to focus on starting a family, despite still being very relevant and dominant in their respective events, is heartwarming. They understand that managing both careers is possible, and can always make a major comeback after a year with new motivation (their baby) to fight for and reclaim their top spots as the best in their disciplines.

Over a decade ago, this was nearly impossible. Female sprinters taking time off to have a child was, to a large extent, considered retirement. It was believed they would never return to being their best or win titles again.

The legendary Fraser-Pryce put this to rest when she claimed her fourth world title in 2019, becoming the oldest woman ever and the first mother, since Gwen Torrence at the 1995 World Championships, to claim the 100m global title. She took particular satisfaction in her win, calling it "a victory for motherhood," and brought her two-year-old son on her victory lap around the stadium.

Three years later, she had her best career season, capping it off by winning her fifth world title at 35, making her the oldest ever world champion in any individual track event.

Fraser-Pryce retired last year, and her impact as a blueprint for female runners to see the possibility of returning to the track after becoming mothers will forever make her one of the greatest in sporting history.

Worthy mentions are Nia Ali and Faith Kipyegon, who also became world champions in their respective events after becoming mothers and are still very active in the sport.

If two athletes can match such milestones, it's definitely McLaughlin-Levrone and Chebet, considered not just generational talents but one of the greats in history.

It won't be surprising if more female athletes follow the motherhood path this year, considering it's an off-season in athletics (no world championships or Olympics) for the sole aim of being back for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

This paradigm shift in women's athletics is one to be proud of, and it's exciting to see more future barriers these women will break as the world continues to embrace the growth of women in sports across all borders.