23 Jun 2020

For some women in sport, pregnancy might end their career, while others like legendary beach volleyball player, Kerri Walsh Jennings, six-time Olympic gold-medallist sprinter,  Allyson Felix and Botswan’s long distance runner, Onneile Dintwe have been able to bounce back to the sporting field post pregnancy.

Dintwe, who has been on maternity leave, said having a new born baby did not stop her from pursuing her dream adding that she started training when her baby was only two months.

In November 2019, when the baby was seven months, she took part in a 10km Airport Junction race and finished on overall position nine, while in senior category, she scooped second position. 

After the first race, she said she spent six weeks training and competed in a 10km Mmadinare Christmas race and finished on position two.

“Having a new born baby did not affect me like some people thought. 

Rather, the baby motivates me, since I have to work hard in order to provide for him. 

My only obstacle is COVID 19,” she said.

According to Dintwe, her intention was to use the first race in 2020, which was billed for March, to check her fitness level and  prepare for Gaborone Diacore Marathon and propably use the race to qualify for Tokyo Olympics.

On the issue of COVID-19 relief, she pointed out that she had engaged her club, Gaborone Striders to assist since her only source of income was taking part in marathons. 

She said her club was  in discussion with Botswana Athletics Association, Botswana National Sports Commission and Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development to see how best they could help her.

Meanwhile, sport psychology lecturer at the University of Botswana, Dr Tshepang Tshube said athletes returning from maternity leave experience non-athletic within-career transition.

Similar to any athletes on transition, he said they go through a sequence of psychological and physiological changes, which calls for coping behaviours.

“Therefore, there is need for career assistance programmes to reintroduce them to the sport, life skills training, identity development, crisis-coping education and clinical interventions,” he said. ENDS