Giedre Rakauskaite - Multiple Gold Medal Winner, New Mum and Fit Mamma!

Paralympic gold medal winner, Giedre Rakauskaite MBE, who recently had her first baby, picked FittaMamma fitnesswear to wear whilst she was pregnant.

Giedre, who nearly lost her leg after an accident which left her with permanent damage to her foot, was talent scouted as a future Paralympic athlete in 2015.  She joined the GB Para-rowing Team in 2017, became double World Champion in 2022 when she raced in both the PR3 women’s pair AND the mixed coxed four, went on to win gold at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020, winning yet another gold at the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024.

In China last year, Giedre took her career tally to six world golds - to become the joint most decorated woman in the PR3 category.

What few people knew when she competed in Shanghai was that Giedre was already pregnant, only letting her team-mates know once they had secured the Gold medal.

‘The Team Doctor suggested I didn’t share the news until after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, so I continued to train at the same intensity, firmly believing my body didn’t need any adaptation at that stage. 

I combated any feelings of nausea during the first trimester by keeping my blood sugar levels high and not letting myself get hungry.’  She added, ‘I do eat a lot anyway, often five or six meals during the day, but during pregnancy I regularly supplement my diet with a snack of yogurt and a couple of bananas during the night.’

Six weeks before the World Championship Giedre submitted a world-record breaking time in a performance test – pregnancy really wasn’t impacting on her rowing prowess!

Giedre didn’t scale back until her bump began to show, recognizing that this was the time to stop rowing on the water.  ‘I didn’t want to risk falling in, or someone making a mistake with the oar hitting my stomach’. 

But nevertheless she continued to train, focussing on weight training, cycling and swimming saying,  ‘Training is fundamental to my health and mental wellbeing, it’s my way of life, key to who I am as a person.’

Giedre switched to FittaMamma fitnesswear in her last trimester.  Speaking to FittaMamma during the last week of her pregnancy she said ‘FittaMamma clothes are very comfortable.  I really enjoy the support the Ultimate Maternity Fitness top provides for my baby bump and the FittaMamma leggings are tip top!

I live in leggings – I exercise in them, go to work in them and relax in them - I just feel I can do more during the day when I’m wearing my FittaMamma leggings.  

Giedre added, ‘And I love that my FittaMamma hoodie has been much admired, especially by other Mums-to-be at NCT classes.  It’s great that you can wear if during pregnancy and afterwards for breast-feeding!’

FittaMamma asked: ‘As a pregnant athlete,  what advice would you give to other women?’

‘Don’t get discouraged by all the negative comments coming your way – at four months pregnant, even my own mother told me not to lift a suitcase!  I am fit, strong and my body has been doing this for 20 years – giving up training would harm me more far more than continuing.

Luckily my husband is a big advocate of me continuing my career as an athlete and is fully supportive of my decision to carry on training but I realise that many women are put off by negative attitudes towards fitness in pregnancy.

I was greatly saddened when I spoke to other mums at my NCT group and they all told me they’d given up the sport and exercise routines they loved because they were pregnant.  If running or lifting weights is your passion – don’t stop!’

 Baby Milana was born a healthy 6.6 pounds after just 13 hours in labour. 

Postpartum Giedre’s initial training routine was largely limited to walking, but three weeks after the birth she said, ‘I must say after a ‘no complication’ pregnancy and birth, being active has definitely helped with recovery. I have tried not to push myself and will see a pelvic floor specialist to make sure everything is okay before I hit the weights – but to be honest, I feel like I could hit the gym already!’ 

FittaMamma is delighted to have been part of Giedre’s journey from top performing athlete to proud mum!  We look forward to her continued success in both roles.