Australia’s Vanessa Low finds “perfect groove” after returning to sport as a mother

When Australia’s Vanessa Low trains for the long jump, she welcomes her one-year-old son Matteo by her side in the foam pit. Her competitions have become a family event, in which she gets to celebrate with her baby and her husband, the three-time Paralympian Scott Reardon.

Low, a two-time Paralympic champion, has been embracing both motherhood and sports since giving birth in June 2022. At the Paris 23 Para Athletics World Championships last year, she captured the bronze medal in the women’s long jump T63 and ran to the stands to share the special moment with Reardon and Matteo.

While Matteo is still too young to understand what it means to compete at one of the world’s biggest sporting events and win medals, Low wants him to be around her when she competes as much as possible.

“I love that he can witness firsthand the most beautiful aspects of sport, like all the values that it teaches you, including team spirit and solidarity in the face of challenges. These qualities are just useful in everyday life,” said the three-time Paralympian and rthe world record holder in the women’s long jump T61 event.

“I think growing up on these values, and always being around them, is something that he will keep for the rest of his life.”

A new journey, the perfect groove

Balancing motherhood and sports has been a “rollercoaster of ups and downs”, Low shares. But Low and Reardon, who has also been her coach since retiring after Tokyo 2020, have drawn inspiration in sports from their son.

“To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure how easy it was going to be to conquer this journey with a baby. I knew that things were going to change a little bit and that the centre of attention is not always just sport,” Low said.

“But Matteo really fit right into our life. He loves playing in the sandpit, he comes to training every other day, and we found a very fun groove,” she added.

Finding the balance between motherhood and sport is something that Low faces every week, and it is not easy, to say the least. With a baby, there are many things she cannot plan, which requires her to be flexible.

“Whenever you make strict plans, the baby has different ideas of what he wants to do and works. He can get sick or something else happens,” she said. “I have to learn to be adaptable in my approach and just pour my love and passion. Step away from all the plans and go with the flow.”

But in the end, everything turns out to be "perfect".

“When I lay in bed, I know that we always make it work and it always somehow works. When we go to bed, I get to cuddle him most nights and he gets to be there for part of the journey on the track,” Low explained.

“And yes, that’s perfect as it should be.”

Motherhood and sport

Low, who lost both of her legs in a train accident at the age of 15, competed for Germany at London 2012 and Rio 2016, before donning Australia’s iconic green and gold track suit following her marriage with Reardon, a gold medallist at Rio 2016.

After Tokyo 2020, Low and Reardon felt ready for parenthood but Low was not sure if she was “ready to let go of sports”. Instead, sport became her motivation and what kept her “sane” during her pregnancy.

After Matteo was born on 21 June 2022, Low chose to return to the sandpits and to the tracks, while being the best mother for her son.

“My pregnancy was very difficult because I had a lot of physical problems, like I was sick every day. I found another appreciation for sport because it gave me that feeling of ‘me’ even though everything else was changing and everything was getting a lot harder.”

“When the baby came, I said I was going to go with the journey of motherhood and athlete. But I always said, ‘You know what? If I haven’t slept for six months and I feel differently about this, then fine. I love being a mum and this is what I want to do’.”

She started walking with her prosthetic legs about a month after giving birth and started running two months later. Being on the tracks allowed her to “feel a lot like me again” and reaffirm her love of the sport.

“Matteo is always the highest priority, and he is always going to be the centre of attention. But at the same time, track is my first baby. It also means a lot to me, so I want to make sure that I give it the love and attention it needs as well.”

Year No. 16

This year, Low is competing in her 16th season. She won two medals at Rio 2016 – a gold in the women’s long jump T42 and a silver in the women’s 100m T42 – before participating at Tokyo 2020 with Reardon.

In the Japanese capital, Low won the women’s long jump T63 with a world record leap of 5.28 metres. What made the victory even sweeter was celebrating with Reardon at her side.

“It was great being at the Games with my husband and I know that lot of people were not able to have their loved ones there (because of the pandemic). But for us, it was the Games that we got to do together.

“We’ve been through the whole journey together and we’ve been in the preparation together and the ups and downs of postponement and injuries and everything in between. It was great to have that moment to ourselves.”

Creating family history

For the three-time Paralympic athlete, the excitement of being at the Games – and starting a Paralympic year – never gets old. She says that every Games is different and unique, because they also take place during different stages of her life.

Tokyo showcased the “importance of sports” when people were socially distancing themselves due to the pandemic. For Low, who gave birth one year after the Games, it feels as if the competition had taken place “yesterday” and at the same time, “a lifetime ago.”

This year, the Paralympics will return to Europe for the first time since London 2012, allowing many people from her birth country Germany to enjoy the action from the stands. Low hopes to make the team at the Paralympics.

“I never get used to the excitement, what it feels like waking up on 1 January knowing it’s a Paralympic year. I’m probably giving the extra 2 percent that I didn’t have last year in every single session because it’s a Paralympic year,” Low explained.

“I walked to the gym with a massive smile today, and I feel like there is so much more I can give in this sport. I’m still excited for PBs (personal bests) and I love showing up every day and giving my best.”

Just like the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics were a family event for Low, she hopes that Paris 2024 will also be a part of her family album.

“For me and for my family, I want it to be just a great memory for us to have had the chance to do this together. Going back in the pictures in 10, 20 years’ time and seeing that Matteo got to be part of the journey, that will be a big part of Scott’s life and mine.

“And professionally, I always want to be the best athlete I can be. I still love putting everything on the line and I’m very excited to show the world what’s possible.”