Sports women having to choose between baby or career - Holland

Many elite female athletes are still having to retire from top-level competition if they want to start a family because they receive a lack of to return, says triathlete Vicky Holland.

Holland returned to her sport after giving birth to her daughter Emmie in January 2023. The following year she won the European triathlon championship at the age of 38.

The former world champion said she was well-ed by British Triathlon but from conversations with athletes from different sports, believed others were not as fortunate with their governing bodies less progressive.

"I spoke to a lot of women when I came back and who were really interested to see how I'd done it and how I was making it work," said Holland, Team GB's first female triathlete Olympic medallist.

"Some were encouraged but others were saying 'in our circumstances there's no way - if we want to have a family I have to retire'.

"And that feels, in this day and age, like a really brutal decision to have to make. We shouldn't have to choose, but it feels like we still do."

Holland is part of a group of athlete mums which provides a network for new parents and a space to ask questions and share advice.

It was set up in 2023 by the GB hockey player Jo Pinner with from the UK Sports Institute. The group has 17 from a range of Olympic and Paralympic Sports.

"The differences from sport to sport is quite interesting," said Holland.

"Some elite sport policies aren't up to scratch."

It is an issue Holland is ionate about.

"Why are we, in 2025, still penalising women for having a family">