Great Britain and England hockey player Jo Pinner believes access to up-to-date guidance and research around pregnancy is critical in ensuring elite athletes feel safe to start a family and return to sport post-partum.
The 32-year-old gave birth to son Josh at the end of April and was back training with her team in September, the first England hockey player to return to the fold after having a baby.
With no precedent within her own team, she was among the first to benefit from UK Sport’s comprehensive pregnancy guidelines for elite athletes, released in 2021, and was delighted to see some of her own feedback incorporated in an update set to be released on Thursday. Pinner, who before the initial guidance was developed thought her only options were to retire or delay starting a family, told the PA news agency: “I think it’s absolutely critical".
UK Sport’s latest update also includes advice about managing multiple pregnancies within a single Olympic or Paralympic cycle and Pinner hopes there will be another edition in the future with even more guidance surrounding return to sport, potentially incorporating learnings from athletes like her who have gone through the process.
