Being a mother doesn’t mean giving up on your dreams—or your career, especially if you’re an athlete. Just ask Elle Purrier St. Pierre, the track and field world champion who’s heard her fair share of doubters during her pregnancy. But did that stop her? Not for a second. While pregnant, Elle competed at the 2022 USA Outdoor Championships, snagging a bronze in the 1500m. But she wasn’t done yet. Fast forward to 2024, and Elle was back stronger than ever, breaking her own American record in her first major international competition since giving birth!

“I’m just really happy to be here. Really proud. Did that for all the moms out there who don’t feel like themselves, but you just got to come back stronger,” Elle said after her stellar performance. And don’t forget she even made it to the Paris Olympics! But wait—there’s more! Elle, the proud mom of Ivan, just dropped some more exciting news, ready to break even more stigmas and prove once again that moms can do it all.

Elle Purrier St. Pierre affirms her ambition with another new chapter

After giving birth to her first child in Mar. 2023, track and field star Elle Purrier St. Pierre shared a heartwarming announcement on Dec. 20. This time not for the firstborn, but she has another baby coming at her motherhood and athletic mettle. “As if I needed to say it: This is not a retirement announcement it’s a baby announcement,” Elle put the caption on her Instagram story. With her almost 2-year-old baby and her husband holding an ultrasound image of the second baby, Elle is smiling brightly in that post. 

But there is much more to that post. Faced with stereotypes about motherhood, Elle pre-empted to shut off the critiques with her caption. She wrote, “Women can have kids And a career, just watch.” During her first pregnancy, Elle Purrier St. Pierre saw how that stereotyped judging floats. However, she responded to the critique, “Just because you couldn’t run when you were pregnant doesn’t mean that somebody else can’t…That goes for not just running, but for any other kind of physical activity or job,” in an interview with the Times in March 2023, which was around the time she gave birth to her first child.

 

She returned to the track and field in less than a year after her first pregnancy. Ellie’s comeback to the Millirose Games and winning stance in Glasgow bolsters many mothers, proving a woman’s conviction against stereotyping chauvinism. She etched her name in the world record in the Millrose Games with her astonishing 4:16.41 timing. And in Glasgow, Elle snagged again with a 1265 score on the 3000m short track and set the American record.

Elle Purrier St. Pierre did officially join the supermom track and field club, rubbing shoulders with legends like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Allyson Felix, who’ve shown the world that motherhood doesn’t hold you back—it actually helps you soar.

Track and Field moms shattering the glass roof 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, affectionately known as “Mommy Rocket,” is not just a track and field legend—she’s also an inspirational mother. After missing the 2017 World Championships to give birth to her son, Zyon, Fraser-Pryce made history by becoming the first 100-meter sprinter to win a world title post-childbirth. Her journey back to the track was nothing short of remarkable. Just 10 weeks after giving birth, she was back in training, and by May 2018, she was already competing again, proving that her speed and determination were as unstoppable as ever. The 8x Olympic medalist has also motivated other mothers on track and field. “She is constantly reminding me that she is older than me and that she is still going strong,” shared Ta Lou, another mom and a decorated athlete.

It is never easy for a mom to be on the ground, and seeing the multi-layered struggle that comes with motherhood, such as leaving their child for too many days or breastfeeding during the competition without having a personal area on the ground, this year’s Stade de France propelled to install a dedicated nursery section for super moms like the athletic Shelly-Ann, Nia Ali, and others. And there are athletes who share the support for their camaraderie. One of them is Allyson Felix the most decorated track and field athlete overall, with 11 Olympic medals and 20 world championships. She teamed up with the Nursery Pampers station for the Paris Olympics. Being a former athlete and a mother, she knows what is most desired by such athlete moms.

Nonetheless, they have achieved while being moms, and time and again they broke the stereotypes. Elle Purrier St. Pierre is definitely one such example and knows how to come back again after embracing motherhood. Thus, we can’t wait for her banging comeback to happen after birthing again!