Raising a glass to Dame Laura Kenny

[nettie434]

I don't know if anyone was watching the Commonwealth Games this afternoon but there was a very moving interview with Laura Kenny who had a miscarriage late last year followed by an ectopic pregnancy early this year.

I was struck by how rare it is for women athletes to talk about their bodies except in relation to sporting injuries. Anyway, despite how much she had been through and how her training had been affected, she won a bronze medal today.

There's more about this in the article but I know lots of posters don't like links to The Guardian so I'll summarise:

www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/apr/22/dame-laura-kenny-reveals-miscarriage-and-ectopic-pregnancy-cycling

The first part is roughly what I've outlined above. Then the article switches to the message of support that Laura Kenny gave to her fellow cyclist Katie Archibald after she wrote to British Cycling criticising their transgender policy. It's a magnificent letter. I'm fairly sure there was a thread on here about it but dare not look as this is the 3rd time I've tried to post this.

I thought Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald were very deserving of a toast (and perhaps a drink in the Bluestocking Bar (not sure I've got the name right).

Yes, I saw that interview today and it made me cry a little bit

What a wonderful woman Laura sounds. I would love to shake her hand.

Toast raised.

I think it shows her absolute grit that she got back on her bike after such an ordeal. I did see that she credits her husband with providing motivation.

Huge respect for Laura and Katie

You're right nettie434 She's a great courageous sportswoman and speaking about her miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy is a reminder to those who would seek to remove women from our own sports how often it's our biology that impacts on us.
I'd happily raise a glass to both her and Katie Archibald

and for her.

It is, indeed, the Bluestocking Pub.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4334006-something-old-something-new-something-bluestocking

In a very fine community with our own time portal, rest home (Shady Pines) and everything.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3435161-Badley-Fuckitt-Welcomes-Careful-Drivers

for Laura and Katie

She’s wonderful and if Emily Bridges had been allowed to race against her, straight from male racing, having never once had to consider the impact of any cycle other than the one he sits on, I think I might have had to resign my job in order to vault the parapet and become a full time protester against TWAW-woo.

The fascinating 28-ish Days Later series on R4 at the moment included an episode on the impact of progesterone on a woman’s ability to train. I’m not scientific enough to summarise accurately, but it really brought home how the physical differences between the sexes are so much more than weight and height and bone structure.

It is, indeed, the Bluestocking Pub.
Thanks for those links EmbarassingHadrosaurus.

The fascinating 28-ish Days Later series on R4 at the moment included an episode on the impact of progesterone on a woman’s ability to train

I've been listening to that too, partystress. It's excellent, isn't it? The Chelsea women's football team link their training to their menstrual cycles and they are certainly very successful.

Kenny is brilliant. She and Archibald are such great athletes and role models for girls.

I watched the race today and Kenny was leading a team of much younger riders for England. They did really well with the bronze.

I was sad to see that Katie Archibald couldn't compete in these games due to having had so many injuries in the past few months. Really hope she can recover well so she can get on with future competitions.

Meanwhile Bridges' mum is complaining on twitter about how Bridges really wanted to compete in these Commonwealth games. Really all I can say is....."no thank you".

Well Bridges could compete surely? In the Men's category? Like Bridges did in March?