Motherhood Is Possible: Paralympic Swimmer Mallory Weggemann Inspires Athletes, Wheelchair Users

The paralympic swimmer reminds co-athletes and individuals with disabilities that there is no bias when it comes to motherhood, that it is possible, and that it can happen to them, like how it happened to her as she and her husband are expecting a baby this coming March.

Mallory Weggemann and her husband Jay Snyder are officially becoming parents come March 2023.

The Paralympic gold medalist and her husband welcomed People in their pregnancy journey through an exclusive interview and shared that they are currently at 31 weeks. Yet, it still feels "surreal" and really "good."

They are excited for the world to see their baby and cannot wait to show the world that motherhood is possible for athletes, wheelchair users, and, most especially, athletes with disabilities.

"This moment is about something bigger than Baby and I. This moment, and hopefully the images that come from it, can show a path forward to other young women and girls who happen to be wheelchair users to see that motherhood is possible for them; to show other female athletes that there's a path forward to continue your career through that stage of your life if you choose, and to show society a way that can start chipping away at this unconscious bias that we put on individuals with disabilities and that we put on women as they lean into motherhood, of what their lives should be," Weggemann declared.

Breaking stereotypes

Pregnancy has not been an easy journey for the couple. They had been through a long in vitro fertilization (IVF) journey, numerous surgeries, over 440 injections, two stim cycles, and an unsuccessful transfer. Yet last August, Weggemann and Snyder finally announced their pregnancy after their second egg transfer became successful.

These two were generous enough to share their struggles with the world, even Snyder's male-factor infertility that they had to work out.

Weggemann cannot help but be proud of how resolved her husband had been about having conversations about his infertility. He knew the need for society to see that it is not always the disabled's fault, that there is a story where the non-disabled spouse is the one struggling with fertility issues.

Thus, in all these victories, the soon-to-be athlete has publicly documented their pregnancy journey, breaking stereotypes and transforming mindsets. Her Instagram account has been a series of pregnancy posts discrediting the idea that female athletes need to choose between career and motherhood while removing the stigma against parents with disabilities.

Talking about being a powerful testimony, she still joined the 2022 US Para Swimming Nationals last December with her 26 weeks old baby in her belly. And, despite the changes in her body, the world-class athlete aced the race and took home the silver in the 50m butterfly. She also made it to the finals in all her three events in the competition.

Read also: Expectant Mom Gives Birth 1 Day After Finishing 5K Cross Country Race in New Jersey

More than the pregnancy is the purpose

Weggemann shared that in one of her swim meets, an official told her that their 11-year-old wheelchair-user daughter is a follower of her on social media. The official narrated how one day, she came into their kitchen and said that she did not know that women in wheelchairs could get pregnant and have babies until she saw photos of her.

Hearing this meant a lot to Weggemann and Snyder, who are not only becoming parents in this pregnancy journey but also an inspiration to other people.

The gold medalist stated that their purpose goes beyond athletes or people with disability because if there is one young girl, woman, man, or a couple that will realize they can be parents because of their story, then they have accomplished their purpose.

Weggeman said that a little 11-year-old girl now knows that if she wants to have a family someday, she cannot be stopped or limited by the "four wheels attached to her."

The athlete hopes to stay active through swimming and lifting for the rest of her third trimester, even up until the baby arrives, unless the doctors say otherwise, as she needs it for her physical and mental health.

After giving birth, she plans to compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with a toddler in tow and an ultimate goal to "win a gold medal as a mom," NBC Sports reported.

Related Article: Olympians And Paralympians Work Hard For Keeping The U.S Kids In Shape And Off From Obesity