I don’t know what could possibly heal our nation after the past few weeks but I’m absolutely ecstatic that the 2024 Olympics are here to try.

If there’s anything we love more than the Olympics themselves, it’s women winning them.

There is not much we love more than that, TBH…

But one added level of inspiration is a mom winning at the Olympics. Especially since I can’t do a single jumping jack without wetting myself after childbirth. 

We’ve celebrated the first ever nursery inside Olympic Village, but moms winning big while representing their country isn’t new at all.

10 of the Biggest Baddie Moms in US Olympic Sports History 

#1. Lisa Andersen | Surfing

Lisa returned to the waves two months after giving birth to her daughter. Then proceeded to win her first world title in 1994, followed by the next three in a row, an unprecedented run for a female surfer. Fire us up.

#2. Kristin Armstrong | Cycling

The 2008 Olympic time trial champion first retired in 2009 to start a family. After her son arrived in 2010, Armstrong came back to repeat as Olympic gold medalist. I love that she realized she could do both and then… did.

#3. Sheryl Swoopes | Basketball

Swoopes not only has the best last name for a basketball player ever, but she also debuted in the WNBA’s first season in 1997 less than two months after giving birth to her son. She was WNBA MVP three times and earned her second and third Olympic gold medals in 2000 and 2004. Swoope(s) there it is. (I’ll see myself out.)

#4. Kerri Walsh Jennings | Beach Volleyball

The greatest female beach volleyball player in history became a mom in 2009 and 2010, right between her second and third gold medals. Nothing but iconic behavior.

#5. Wilma Rudolph | Track and Field

Wilma contracted polio as an infant and was unable to walk properly until age 11, but that didn’t stop her from sweeping the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at the 1960 Rome Olympics. She celebrated with her daughter, Yolanda, who she’d had 2 years earlier. If this makes you feel like you can do anything… good.

#6. Pat McCormick | Diving

Pat swept the springboard and platform at a second straight Olympics in 1956 after giving birth to her first son earlier that year. She remains the only female diver to sweep the golds at multiple Olympics. All in the same year?!? I’m sick.

#7. Joy Fawcett | Soccer

As a mom, Joy played every minute of the 1995, 1999 and 2003 World Cups and the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. That is a lot of minutes and this photo makes me more than a little bit emotional. Incredible.

#8. Juli Inkster | Golf

Inkster won four of her seven majors more than five years after having her two daughters, including a pair of U.S. Opens. I know watching your mom do this as a 5-year old has to be the coolest thing of all time, even better than Bluey.

#9. Candace Parker | Basketball

Candace had her daughter in 2009 and earned her second Olympic gold medal in 2012. She said while I’m at it, I might as well earn a WNBA MVP and become a World Champion in 2016. Winners don’t even entertain the thought of not winning.

#10. Quanera Hayes | Track and Field

Hayes came in first place in the women's 400m at the track & field trials, securing her first Olympic appearance in Tokyo with her toddler in attendance. When the media asked her how she did it - she didn’t downplay at all. Quanera said she basically had to learn how to run all over again after giving birth. I’m so glad she did.

What’s even more inspiring is that there are more women that could be on this list.

I think this had to be what Regina’s mom was talking about, because…. These are not regular moms, these are cool moms.

Xo, The Salesgirls

PS. The official start to the Paris Olympics is this Friday, July 26th, but our first order of business is tomorrow when the US Women’s Soccer team kicks off versus Zambia. You can find the full Olympic television schedule here.

If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, forward it to a bada$$ mom you know.