What does it take to be a great sports mom? You don’t have to play, but it helps. The one qualification is giving birth. With that in mind, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, here are 10 great sports mothers, in no particular order:
10 » Barbara Nicklaus
Never played golf, but considered one of the greatest ambassadors of the sport with her generosity and devotion to husband Jack Nicklaus, their five children, and 15 grandchildren, all who live less than 15 miles away in Florida. Raised more than $10 million for charities.
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9 » Brenda Frese
The University of Maryland women’s basketball coach gave birth to twin boys — Tyler Joseph Thomas and Markus William Thomas — during the 2008 season in which the Terps went 33-4 and advanced to the Elite Eight. It was two years after Frese led Maryland to the national championship.
8 » Dara Torres
Do you really want a mom with 6-pack abs? Fifteen months after giving birth for the first time, Torres, at age 40, won the gold medal in the 100 freestyle at the 2007 U.S. Nationals, then set a U.S. record in the 50 freestyle, 25 years after she set the mark as a 15 year old. First woman in history to swim in the Olympics beyond age 40.
Distance running and childbirth are all about pain threshold. Perhaps that explains the success of three particularly accomplished running moms:» Nine months after giving birth, Scottish distance runner Liz McColgan won the world championship in the 10,000. Three months after that, she won the New York Marathon.» Ten months after giving birth to her first child, Paula Radcliffe of England won the second of her three New York Marathons.» Six-time national triathlon champion Karen Smyers has sliced her hamstring in half, broken her collarbone, survived thyroid cancer and a near-fatal crash with an 18-wheel truck. So running a triathlon at the Goodwill Games three months after giving birth was a snap. She also competed in the world championships three weeks after having a miscarriage.
7 » Fanny Blankers-Koen
In an era when it was inconceivable to be a mother and a champion athlete, Blankers-Koen won four gold medals at the 1948 Olympics as a 30-year-old mother of two. Competing for the Netherlands, the “Flying Housewife” took gold in the 80, 100, 200 hurdles and 4×100 relay.
6 » Deborah Phelps
The driving force behind the unparalleled swimming success of her son, Michael Phelps, was once told by a teacher that her son “will never be able to focus on anything.” Deborah, a former teacher and now middle school principal, did much of the parenting on her own after her divorce 15 years ago, when Michael was 8.
5 » Nancy Lopez
Interrupted her Hall of Fame golf career to have three daughters with former major-leaguer-turned-broadcaster Ray Knight. Of her 48 LPGA victories, 21 came as a mom, including a pair of major championships. Won AP Female Athlete of the Year award twice, once before becoming a mother, once after.
4 » Sheryl Swoopes
Six weeks after giving birth to a son (shockingly named Jordan), Swoopes helped save the WNBA in its inaugural season, joining the Houston Comets for nine games, helping them win the first of four WNBA titles. Followed with two WNBA MVP awards and her second and third Olympic gold medals (2000, 2004).
3 » Tatyana Ovechkin
Mother of Caps superstar Alex Ovechkin, was captain and point guard of the two-time Olympic and six-time European champion Soviet squad, and now runs the national team. She spent a year in the hospital at age 7 after her leg was mangled when she was hit by a car.
2 » Margaret Court
After winning 21 Grand Slam titles, including all four in 1970, the tennis legend gave birth to her first of three children, then returned in 1973 and nearly won all four again, taking the Australian, French, and U.S. Opens. Her only misstep came in the Wimbledon semifinals against Chris Evert.
1 » Joy Lynn Fawcett
During her 17 years on the U.S. national soccer team, the Hall of Fame defender gave birth to three daughters (in 1994, 1997 and 2001) while playing every minute of every game in the 1995, 1999 and 2003 World Cups and the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. Was a founding member of the WUSA.
