Elinor Barker: Juggling Motherhood and Training for Olympic Success

Elinor Barker, a seven-time world champion in cycling, is not your typical Olympic athlete. With a two-year-old son in tow, she is juggling motherhood and training for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Barker’s son, Nico, has already traveled to five different countries in the past six months, accompanying his mother on her training sessions and competitions. Despite the challenges of balancing motherhood and elite sports, Barker credits her team, Uno-X Mobility, for their support and innovative approach to training.

The 29-year-old from Cardiff has already experienced Olympic success, winning gold in the women’s team pursuit at the Rio 2016 Games. However, her journey to the Tokyo 2021 Olympics was bittersweet, as she was dropped from the gold medal race despite helping the team reach the final.

Behind her smile on the podium was a secret – Barker had just found out she was pregnant with her first child. Despite the unexpected news, Barker continued to train and compete, eventually winning two gold medals at the World Championships in Glasgow last year.

Now, with her sights set on the Paris Olympics, Barker is determined to add to her impressive collection of world titles. Balancing training sessions with quality time spent with Nico, Barker finds motivation and perspective in her role as a mother.

As she prepares for the upcoming Games, Barker hopes to inspire other female athletes who are also navigating the challenges of motherhood and elite sports. With the unwavering support of her team and the love of her son, Barker is ready to take on the world once again, aiming for gold in Paris this summer.