Dame Laura Kenny opens up about post-pregnancy body image fears at Wimbledon
Dame Laura Kenny has spoken out on the highs and lows of post-pregnancy body image after a difficult first public appearance at Wimbledon.
The 33-year-old gave birth to her third child and first daughter, Lily, in early May and has since returned to work and public events, including an appearance alongside husband Jason at the Wimbledon Championships earlier this month.
Kenny admitted that it wasn't all sunshine and roses in the lead-up to the event, struggling to find a dress that she felt comfortable in so soon after giving birth, which would also allow her to feed her daughter during the day.
Posting to her 221k followers on Instagram, the five-time Olympic champion opened up about the mental and emotional toll being a mother to a newborn can have on you and was overwhelmed to see such an incredible response from others in a similar position.
"I find it hugely important to post about this stuff, especially from a women's point of view," she said. "We actually looked at the digital response and there were 1.5 million views and 86% were female on that post alone.
"That's why it's so important, and that's why I posted it, because I want every other mum that's sitting at home to know how I was feeling.
"You see a nice happy photo of us at Wimbledon, but that wasn't the backstory. The backstory was me actually quite upset, trying to find an outfit because I felt like I didn't look like me, and I'm having to put myself in the limelight, and find a dress that will let me feed my child.
"Yes, going to Wimbledon is a choice, but it is also something that I wanted to do, and I shouldn't have to give that up."
Kenny retired from her career in the velodrome in March 2024 and has since stepped into a new role as President of Commonwealth Games England.
It is a role she took on at seven months pregnant and one that she has taken in stride, having already attended her first board meeting less than 12 weeks after giving birth.
And even though Lily might admittedly be the easiest of her three children when it comes to sleeping, Kenny knows that returning to work so quickly is hardly the norm for most mothers.
She also noted that it is something she enjoys, having always embraced chaos in the workplace. "Some people think it's a bit mental coming back so soon," she said.
"I mean, I filmed a podcast when she was just two days old, and it didn't even occur to me that it was kind of mental. Our line of work is a bit random, and it is a bit all over the place, and so it's always been like that.
"I trained with Albie, and he just travelled the world with us so for me, I've actually never known any different and so I'm just enjoying it again.
"I'm not going to say it's not difficult, but I like the mayhem and absolute carnage."
Kenny's new role is quickly heating up, with today marking one year to go until the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
It is a milestone that the former track cyclist knows well from her time as an athlete, believing that it was a key moment for athletes to nail down their targets.
"From an athlete's point of view, you can think that the Games are coming around really fast, and it can almost seem a little bit scary," she said.
"But I think it feels scary, and it feels daunting because it means so much to you. I think it brings a whole host of emotion.
"I always felt like a year to go was really achievable. I could set a target by that point."
But from her new stead as President, Kenny admitted that she is relishing the new behind-the-scenes aspect that she has access to. From board meetings about accommodation to talking through athlete selection processes, Kenny has a whole new world of insight into what happens to make a Commonwealth Games come to life.
And with the clock ticking down until the opening day of competition on 23 July 2026 in Glasgow, she is more than ready to get stuck in.
"I'm so excited," she said. "The reason I took the role in the first place was because I felt like I wanted to give back to the athletes and because Team England have played a huge part in my career.
"So, the bit that I'm obviously most excited about is actually talking to the athletes and getting involved and that will only ramp up from now."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
9 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Frankie Bridge fans 'obsessed' with sell-out suit that's back in new colour
The 36-year-old singer shared her latest 'Payday Faves' on Instagram over the weekend and her followers went made for a sage green suit from PrettyLittleThing Style icon Frankie Bridge has served up some seriously swoon-worthy looks in her recent 'Faves Edit'. And one of the outfits was a co-ord set from PrettyLittleThing that had fans 'obsessed', with some saying it's one of her 'best looks yet'. The former The Saturdays singer each week shares a series of outfits on Instagram and in her Faves Edit newsletter to give style inspiration to her followers. This week, her video featured looks for shoppers to treat themselves to come payday - the PrettyLittleThing set included. Consisting of a Woven Collarless Oversized Shoulder Pad Waistcoat, £34, and Woven Extreme Wide Leg Pleated Mid Rise Wide Leg Trousers, £28, the pair comes in three different colours: sage khaki (green - Frankie's choice), butter yellow and a light neutral Clay tone. Her inclusion of this suit comes after the brand's popular chocolate brown hue supposedly 'sold out'. Frankie mused: " This suit has sold out every time in brown, so they've brought out a new colour." While she said that on the website it looks more of a beige hue, she confirmed in her video showcasing the duo that is was 'definitely green'. Shop Frankie's look Product Description Made from a mix of 75% Polyester, 20% Viscose and 5% Elastane, the suit is a great option for events like weddings, christenings and dinners occurring in the summer months thanks to its relatively lightweight make-up. With dramatic shoulders, a collarless neckline - great for showing off necklaces - and sleeveless finish, the waistcoat has a relaxed fit and hidden popper fastening for a seamless look. It's a unique take on the more traditional waistcoats, which often feature button fastenings on the outside - for example, the £25 M&S Collection Tailored Waistcoat has four buttons on the front to fasten its tailored fit, while New Look's Green Soft Touch Striped Crew Neck Waistcoat, £22.99, has more of a longline shape fastened from its crew neckline to its hip-length hem. A fun design, this waistcoat comes with a defined striped vertical pattern and fitted darts. The PLT waistcoat is complimented nicely by the brand's Extreme Wide Leg Pleated Mid Rise Wide Leg Trousers. With 'exaggerated pleats and flowing legs' they are flattering on all shapes and sizes. The set is still available in sizes four to 16. Fans and followers of Frankie Bridge on Instagram flooded her comments section to praise the ensemble - which was made up of some statement earrings, a burgundy bag and burgundy sandal heels. "OMG some of the best looks yet," said one keen fashion fan, while another raved: "Ohhh that sage green co-ord is a piece of me." "Needs the links for them all and your fav green co ord same," added another. Although for some people, these looks proved to be a little too 'big' on the singer, with one Instagram comment reading: "Everything looks so big", regarding the oversized fit. They added: "I prefer the more fitted, tailored outfits."
Daily Mirror
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Hannah Hampton pays tribute to grandad who died before Euro 2025 in touching post
England hero Hannah Hampton has marked Sunday's triumph in the Euro 2025 final by sharing a poignant social media post paying tribute to her grandfather, who died shortly before the tournament Hannah Hampton has penned a beautiful tribute to her grandfather following England's Euro 2025 triumph, revealing that he sadly passed away just two days before the start of the tournament. Hampton, 24, was the Lionesses hero in a dramatic penalty shootout against Spain in Sunday's final, saving two spot-kicks to inspire England to a second consecutive European title. And she marked the occasion by sharing a poignant post on her Instagram account paying tribute to her late grandfather, who was 'one of her biggest supporters'. "Dear Grandpa," she wrote. "Two days before the biggest tournament of my life, you left. It still doesn't feel real. I kept thinking when I'd call nannie I'd hear your voice again - one of your jokes, or one of those little comments you'd make that somehow said everything without saying much at all. "You were one of my biggest supporters. You believed in me before I even knew what this journey would look like. You were always there - watching, encouraging, teaching. You taught me so much, not just about football, but about life. About staying grounded, working hard, being resilient and doing things the right way. "I miss our chats. I miss you saying 'Only us athletes understand' — always with a little smirk like you were in on something special. And you were. You got it. You understood what this meant to me. You understood what it took. "It breaks my heart that you didn't get to see me walk out for our country at my first major tournament... something you dreamed of for me, something we talked about so many times. I wanted to see your face or hear your voice after the game calling back home. I wanted to share that with you. "But I know, deep down, you were still there. I felt you with me. In the tunnel. On the pitch. In the tough moments. I heard you in my head when I needed strength. "I hope I made you proud, Grandpa. I carried you through every minute. "And I always will. I did it. WE DID IT."
Daily Mirror
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Coronation Street's Jack P Shepherd brands wedding guests 'idiots' for one question
Jack P Shepherd, known for his role as David Platt on the long-running ITV soap, recently tied the knot with his partner, Hanni Treweek, but revealed that he had a certain issue prior to the big day Jack P Shepherd has dubbed some of his recent wedding guests "f***ing idiots" for asking a specific question about the proceedings. In a new episode of the On The Sofa podcast with fellow Coronation Street stars Colson Smith and Ben Price (recorded prior to his marriage to Hanni Treweek), the David Platt actor opened up about his wedding preparations. On Saturday (July 26), the happy couple tied the knot at Manchester Cathedral, surrounded by loved ones. It included his podcast co-hosts, Colson and Ben, who would serve as his groomsmen on the day. Jack noted at the time of the recording that it was the "kick-b*****k scramble" week before the wedding, a time when they had to address the "nitty gritty bits", prompting Colson to ask if there had been any cancellations. He said: "I've had a few f***ing idiots saying things like - it's mainly family." Colson interjected, noting that he was, in fact, a "f***ing idiot", to which Jack replied: "Oh, was ya?" Jack continued: "Saying stuff like, 'Well, where do we get ready, because the wedding's at two, but we can't check in till three?' I said, 'At f***ing home, you idiot. I mean, where do you think you get ready if you can't get ready in the hotel?" Elaborating, he pointed out that people could arrive at the hotel and do what "normal people" do by dropping their bags off. Despite this, it appears that the wedding went off without a hitch. In what they described as "the wedding of our dreams", Jack arrived in a red Mustang and wore an off-white suit, sunglasses and bow-tie. Meanwhile, Hanni, donning a tiara, reportedly wore a skirt and off-the-shoulder top. Also in attendance were Jack's son, Reuben (whose outfit matched his dad's) and the actor's on-screen mum, Helen Worth, who was accompanied by her husband, Trevor Dawson. As they left the venue, the newlyweds could be seen beaming and exchanging a number of kisses as they headed to the wedding car, as white confetti cascaded over them. Jack and Hanni first met on the set of Corrie when she was working as a scriptwriter. Fast forward to over a year ago, and Jack popped the question while the couple enjoyed a safari in Tanzania. The soap actor first joined the long-running ITV show in April 2000 and has since become a much-loved fixture of the series. In advance of the big day, Jack took to Instagram to express his thanks to the wedding planners. He wrote: "The A team, @taylorlynncorp me and @hannitreweek are so grateful. everything has come together and it's looking like it's gonna be amazing! "We couldn't have done it without you guys. Best in the biz. Thank you thank you thank you."
