Paralympian mom qualified for event just six months after giving birth: ‘I was so determined’

A Paralympian set to compete in this year’s games is giving new meaning to the phrase “super mom,” having earned a roster spot on Team USA just six months after giving birth.

Femita Ayanbeku welcomed her daughter in January. In July, she crossed the finish line of the 100-meter dash at 13.01 seconds during the Paralympic Trials, a time that earned her a trip to this year’s games in Paris.

“Everybody was telling me to take the year off,” she said after the race. “I was taking my daughter to the track with me, taking her to lift. It was a lot. But I was so determined. I knew I could do it, but to actually do it feels like… I can’t even describe the feeling. I just want to go hug my baby.”

Ayanbeku also said she found inspiration from other mom athletes, especially after attending a Women’s Sports Foundation event in November while still pregnant.

“Everybody was encouraging me but telling me to be realistic at the same time, because it’s definitely a lot, getting back into training and competing,” she said. “But I’m very hopeful because I’m such a determined person, and I always had the idea that I wanted to be a competing mom so that my daughter or my son could see their mom accomplishing great things. I have a different type of motivation that’s pushing me right now.”

She has shared much of her postpartum and training journey on her Instagram page, noting that she’s included her young daughter as much as possible in her training.

“Becoming a mom while still chasing my goal of the Paris 2024 Team has been one of the most challenging things I’ve done, but it will be the most rewarding,” she said in a post. “As a mom, I knew I wanted to breastfeed my daughter and I’m proud to say that my daughter is 100% breastfeeding and that itself is a journey, but that was a huge goal for me to be able to do for her. As an athlete I knew after having my daughter, I wanted to continue to train and compete, and I’m proud to say I am doing that as well.”

“A successful day for me, is being able to meet all of my daughters needs for the day, seeing her laugh and smile while also being able to get a full session on the track and in the gym.”

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