Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Top German Athletes Call Out Lack of Maternity Support in Elite Sport

They describe lost sponsors and heavy logistical burdens after childbirth.

Overview

  • In a new BR podcast episode, steeplechaser Gesa Krause and biathlon Olympic champion Denise Herrmann-Wick say combining motherhood with elite competition remains poorly supported.
  • Krause says federations offer no practical structures for childcare or family logistics, leaving mothers to manage planning and costs themselves.
  • She reports losing sponsors immediately after becoming a mother, underscoring the financial risk around a comeback.
  • Denise Herrmann-Wick cites lingering discomfort in a male-dominated system and notes that France sees more frequent returns of athlete mothers.
  • Host Felix Neureuther recounts that his wife Miriam’s attempted comeback post-birth was not taken seriously by officials, reinforcing calls for proactive federation engagement.