By KPC Sports CorrespoAndent
World Athletics has unveiled a new global initiative aimed at better understanding pregnancy, childbirth, and the return to elite competition for female athletes.
The project, named Childbirth And Return in Elite Sport (CARES), combines scientific research with policy development, drawing heavily on athletes’ lived experiences. It seeks to build evidence that will shape future support systems, improve protections, and address inequalities in elite athletics.
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As part of the initiative, World Athletics is inviting elite female athletes—both those who have experienced pregnancy and those who have not—to take part in two separate surveys.
The programme is being implemented jointly by the organisation’s Health and Science and Competition departments, with input from the World Athletics Athletes’ Commission.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the initiative is designed to make the sport more inclusive and supportive.
“We are continually looking for ways to make our sport even more equitable, and the CARES project is the next step in ensuring athletes who experience pregnancy are protected, receive support, and do not face barriers when it comes to being able to make a return to elite athletics,” said Coe.
“It is important that our athletes are the driving force behind this. The responses generated by these surveys and the associated analysis of performance metrics is vital to this project, to inform future action.”
The first survey targets athletes who experienced pregnancy from 1 January 2019 during their elite careers, whether or not the pregnancy resulted in childbirth.
It gathers data on their experiences, including barriers to return, available support systems, contractual and financial challenges, and how world rankings could be managed during maternity leave.
This will be complemented by a retrospective analysis of World Athletics performance data.
The second survey focuses on elite female athletes who have not experienced pregnancy, and explores perceptions around maternity policies, governance structures, and ranking-related considerations.
World Athletics Athletes’ Commission Chair Valerie Adams welcomed the initiative, highlighting the cultural shift taking place in elite sport.
“I am really proud to see World Athletics taking a leading role in encouraging research and more open dialogue about what it means to be a mother and an athlete,” said Adams.
“When I started my career, you didn’t want to tell your sponsors if you got pregnant because you might get dropped. By the time I retired – as a mother of two – we’re seeing more female athletes coming back from having kids and performing at an elite level. I hope that the work being done in this space will further inspire female athletes to not only plan their sporting career, but also plan their life.”
The surveys are open to all elite female athletes listed in the World Athletics competition performance rankings, with responses expected by 30 September.
