An exploration of Elite Athletes’ Experiences, Identity Transitions, and Environments through Conception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum

Numbers of female athletes transitioning into motherhood and returning to elite sport have increased. Despite high profile examples, successful transitions are not guaranteed, and elite athlete mothers remain marginalised within policy, guidelines, and research. This PhD addresses this gap through the novel longitudinal exploration of elite athletes’ experiences across pregnancy and into motherhood, how environment impacts this transition, and gaps in support and recommendations for future practice. A total of 62 female athlete participants took part across four qualitative studies. Data was collected via longitudinal interviews, a qualitative case study, and surveys. Data were primarily explored though reflexive thematic analysis, and the original inclusion of identity theory and a bioecological model to underpin findings. Overall, this body of work advances understanding of elite athlete mothers and challenges dominant narratives that equate motherhood with retirement from elite sport. Findings demonstrate that the perinatal transition involves complex and dynamic identity renegotiation, in which athlete, mother, and physical identities are disrupted and subsequently renegotiated, while also providing clear evidence that elite athletes can successfully return to high-performance sport following pregnancy. Additionally, experiences remain shaped by environments, with inconsistencies between policy, practice, provision. Notably, communication and support contributed to unequal outcomes influenced by funding status, performance level, and key players within the system. Despite recent policy developments, gaps in the clarity, coherence, and implementation of support structures persist. The need for more detailed, evidence-informed policies, targeted provisions, and cultural change to enable elite athlete mothers to thrive within high-performance environments remains.