Miscarriage, a profoundly emotional and isolating experience, is more common than you might think. While we tend to glorify the lifestyle and experiences of celebrities and athletes, they too are not exempt from the commonality that is losing a pregnancy—or a child.
Many women who experience miscarriage have feelings of grief or guilt. “Pregnancy loss affects up to one in two women,” Professor Tom Bourne of Imperial College London told Science Daily. “For many women, it will be the most traumatic event in their life.” It is imperative that during this time of emotional fragility, open conversations be held to break the stereotype and offer support for those affected.
To put it simply, miscarriages do not discriminate. They can happen to anyone at any time (although it’s far more common to occur in the first trimester), regardless of race, health, age or socioeconomic status. Yet, in our society, there is a never-ending immense pressure to maintain an image of perfection—and this is even more intense for high-profile athletes. We see their bodies as works of art—human perfection in physical form—so for them to come forward and admit that they’ve experienced pregnancy loss or infertility is not only powerful, but it’s a stark reminder of the normality of these circumstances.
We’re grateful to these Olympic athletes who are breaking down the misconceptions surrounding miscarriage and serving as a beacon of hope for those suffering in silence who often feel misunderstood and unaided.
Through normalizing discussions around this loss, we can help foster a more open and supportive environment for women who will experience this same pain in the future. Here are some Olympians who have been open about their fertility and pregnancy struggles, showing that, even in the face of such a devastating loss, hope and strength can prevail.
Laura Kenny
Laura Kenny, a five-time Olympic gold medalist for Great Britain, has candidly shared her personal struggles with miscarriage and subsequent ectopic pregnancy. After experiencing the devastating loss of a pregnancy in 2021, Kenny underwent surgery to remove a fallopian tube. “I cannot tell you how sad I was for a year to 18 months,” Kenny told Women’s Health UK in July 2024. “I mean, you could ask Jase (her husband and fellow cyclist, Jason Kenny) how I was; I was a different person.” The Olympic champion has openly discussed the profound impact these experiences had on her mental health, revealing a side of herself often hidden behind the athlete persona. Despite facing immense challenges, Kenny demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning to competitive cycling and achieving podium success. Her story underscores the importance of mental health and emotional support for athletes, even at the highest level. “I’ve always known I was tough, but sometimes life pushes you to an unbearable limit,” she said at the 2022 Nations Cup in Glasgow. “But here I am, with the support of my family, friends and team-mates, on the podium of a nation’s cup.”
Rebecca Adlington
Former British competitive swimmer and four-time Olympic medalist shared her experience of miscarriage in 2023 on her Instagram page, highlighting the emotional toll of such a loss. At her 20-week anatomy scan, Rebecca shared that they could not find a heartbeat. ‘We’ll never fully get over what happened,” Adlington told The Mirror in July 2021. “However, I can’t pretend to be OK or fake a smile. I can’t have people ask me how pregnancy is or when I am due as I still look pregnant.” Rebecca’s story is one all women who have faced miscarriage can relate to. The constant questions about the baby who never will come can be debilitating. Knowing one of Britain’s most outstanding athletes has felt the same feelings can hopefully provide support.
Shawn Johnson
If you follow United States gymnastics, you’ll know the name Shawn Johnson. She’s a 2008 Olympic gold medalist in balance beam and team events, as well as a silver medalist in all-around and floor. In 2017, Shawn shared in a Youtube video she had suffered a miscarriage in her first pregnancy. Four years later, Shawn shared more about her experience in People’s “Me Becoming Mom” podcast. She questioned if her struggles with eating disorders and weight loss pills could have contributed to the loss. She felt guilty, and that it was something that she did to cause the miscarriage. Shawn’s emotions are so common in women who miscarriage. The guilt, fear and anxiety that you did something wrong to miscarry is often wrong, and it’s important to remember that.
Laura Roper
Laura Roper, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in field hockey for Great Britain, has candidly shared her experience with pregnancy loss. The unexpected news of her pregnancy in January, coupled with the looming Olympic qualifiers, presented a significant challenge. She made the difficult decision to prioritize her health and family, stepping away from field hockey and retiring. However, she heartbreakingly miscarried. “You feel quite alone because no-one talks about the experience and actually what it entails,” Roper said to BBC in July. “Elite athletes are used to being in control of every aspect of their body but all of a sudden your body and hormones are all over the place. It was very raw.” Laura is a reminder that anyone can experience miscarriage and she remains an inspiring athlete on the field.
Lolo Jones
Lolo Jones is an American hurdler and bobsled, making her one of the few athletes to compete in both the Summer and Winter games. While never shying away from a challenge, Lolo’s experience with infertility was different. In 2022, she shared her story with ABC News. “I have been crashing a bobsled at 90 miles an hour. I’ve had hamstring injuries, spine surgery, and nothing was more terrifying than starting to even look up the process of egg freezing,” Jones told ABC News in 2022. She had to give herself hormone injections before the surgery and ultimately her doctors were able to retrieve only 17 eggs that were viable. Lolo’s journey with IVF is a testament to the strength it takes women who want or need to find alternative routes to pregnancy.
Tara Lipinski
Tara Lipinski, former American figure skater and gold medal winner, opened up about her miscarriage and infertility struggles last year. In an interview with People, she shared that she and her husband had been trying to get pregnant for over five years, suffering multiple unsuccessful rounds of IVF, four miscarriages, four D&Cs, six failed embryo transfers, eight egg retrievals and a diagnosis of endometriosis requiring two major surgeries. “I think for us, infertility, this journey to build a family became a full-time job. It consumed my life,” Lipinski told People. Despite these challenges, Lipinski and Kapostasy were steadfast in their mission to become parents, eventually welcoming their daughter, Georgie, via surrogacy in October 2023.
Unfortunately, miscarriage is part of many women’s stories. It affects women from all walks of life, even Olympic athletes. Serena, Laura and Rebecca’s stories are just a few that can help challenge the misconception about miscarriage. They can inspire and provide hope for those who have faced the same struggles and feelings. It’s important to remember that miscarriage can affect anyone, regardless of their background or profession.
For those who have faced miscarriage, know that you are not alone. These Olympian’s stories can remind you of that. Resilience and hope can emerge from the most challenging circumstances. While this loss can feel never-ending, know it will get better, one step at a time. Remember, you are stronger than you think, and there is always hope for a brighter future.
