Three-time Olympic medallist Therese Alshammar has devoted 30 years to swimming but 2013 brought a life-changing event when she gave birth to baby Fred.
Now aged 36, Therese has returned to the water with the long-term goal of competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when she will be a fortnight shy of her 39th birthday.
The Swede gained 20 kilos during pregnancy and stayed away from exercise for three months following Fred’s arrival at the end of May before making her way back to training under coach and partner Johan Wallberg.
Here Therese describes how she has come back after pregnancy and the practicalities of training with a baby.
She also gives an insight into how she keeps training stimulating, her diet, how she prevents damage to hair and skin and the women who have inspired her.
Fitness
A self-confessed “tall skinny child”, Therese has arrowed her way to Olympic, World and European medals in her 21-year career.
Long and lean, Therese had to work on gaining muscle at the start of her international days as she developed her sprinter’s body.
However, that changed when she gained 20 kilos during pregnancy before Fred arrived eight months ago.
Now Therese is back in heavy training under Johan – himself a double Olympian –…