Kolkata: Olympics is such an event that broadens its channel for every athlete of any age to demonstrate their abilities. Athletes conquer all odds to take part and excel in the Games through absolute perseverance and solitary purposefulness.
They had adapted quickly both on and off the field, and their story deserved to be appreciated and respected. The Tokyo Olympics will be one such event where the world will see several women who embraced motherhood while also continuing to make their country proud in their respective sporting fields.
Let’s take a look at some of them..
Isabell Werth (Equestrian) | Germany
With six gold and four silver medals at the Olympics, world champion Isabell Werth is the most decorated equestrian at the Tokyo Olympics. The German dressage rider, who would be 52 at the time of the event, will represent her country in a record-breaking sixth Olympics and will have the opportunity to break her own medal record by competing in both the individual and team events.
Allyson Felix (Track & Field) | USA
Allyson Felix is the Olympics’ joint-most successful female track and field star with six gold and three silver medals. The 35-year-old athlete gave birth to her daughter in a life-threatening delivery in 2018 and competed in the 2019 Doha World Championships. In Doha, she surpassed Usain Bolt’s record for the most number of gold medals in the event bagging two top podium finishes.
The Tokyo Olympics would be her fifth Games appearance so far and would become the first female track and field athlete with 10 or more Olympic medals. The current record is being held by Felix and Merlene Ottey – both having nine medals each.
Svetlana Romashina (Artistic Swimming) | Russia
Svetlana Romashina has been one of the most dominant artistic swimmers in the circuit since her debut. The 31-year-old is a five-time Olympic champion and a 21-time World Champion. She is preparing to compete in the Olympics for the fourth time in Tokyo hoping to extend her golden run in the quadrennial event.
Mariel Zagunis (Fencing) | USA
The 36-year-old sabre fencer is the first American to win Olympic gold in fencing at individual events in both Athens and Beijing. She had also won two bronze medals in the team event in Beijing and Rio de Janeiro. Zagunis would compete in the Olympic Games for the fifth time in her career during her appearance in Tokyo, and she would undoubtedly try to break her previous record.
Mary Kom (Boxing) | India
The six-time world champion is one of the most decorated pugilists globally. Nicknamed as ‘Magnificient Mary’ and a mother of three, Mary Kom rose to the occasion at the 2012 London Olympics where she clinched a bronze. The 38-year-old boxer is still going strong hoping to end her Olympics career with that elusive gold in Tokyo.
Oksana Chusovitana (Gymnastics) | Uzbekistan
The 46-year-old gymnast has had a long and eventful career having represented the Soviet Union, Germany and Uzbekistan as well as the Unified Team. Chusovitana had won two Olympic and eleven World Championship gold medals. She is the only gymnast who had competed in seven Olympic Games and would become the oldest gymnast in 112 years at the Summer Games in Tokyo.
Sania Mirza (Tennis) | India
One of the best tennis players India has ever produced, Sania Mirza is the winner of six grand slam titles. She had competed in three consecutive Olympic games and would compete in her fourth in Tokyo as a mother of a three-year-old. In the process, Sania will also equal Shiny Abraham Wilson’s record for the most Olympic appearances by an Indian woman.
