Moms and Sports

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm neither a mom or an athlete (just a weekend warrior), but I think one of the most underrated roles in sports is that of an athlete's mom. they're the ones who make the most sacrifices to help their kids succeed in sports. For example, in an interview with Comcast Sports Net recently, Jon Garland of the White Sox, for example, credits his mom for introducing him to baseball and helping him practice his pitching.

But I think a role that may even be tougher is a woman who is both an athlete and a mom. The have to strive for balance in their lives. How do you train for your sport while also taking care of your child?

Jo-Ann Burleigh of Vancouver, BC, was an assistant coach with the Canadian Women's Paralympic Basketball team. In 2000, she gave birth to her daughter Rylie. In an interview with the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity, Burleigh says, "There is absolutely no reason to lose sight of your dreams when a child comes into the picture. If anything, it's more of a reason to accomplish your dreams so you can share it with the ones you love."

So to all the female athletes who are also moms, I wish you Happy Mother's Day.

On a related note, congratulations to Chicago Bandits pitcher and former Olympian Jennie Finch on the birth of her first child earlier this month. Also Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders gave birth to her first child in April.

Jennie Finch