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The 30-year-old Portuguese canoe sprinter Joana Vasconcelos is expecting baby girl any day now. The athlete participated in her second Olympics in Tokyo in women’s K1 200 and 500 metres events, but was not satisfied with her performances which brought her 23^rd and 37^th place.

 

Much more satisfied with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was Hungarian Dora Bodonyi. The 28-year-old paddler from Szolnok won gold medal in women’s K4 500 metres event and bronze medal in women’s K2 500 metres final. The postponement of the Olympic Games also postponed her plans to create her family with husband and coach. She is now in her 16h week and is expected to give birth in August.

 

“I started moving again in week 11, until then my doctor didn’t recommend it. I have a minimum of one workout a day, but of course not as intensely as before. I still go to Gergő, and here in Szolnok I have the opportunity to go to maternity yoga three times a week, so I try to hold 7-8 workouts. I've been told to move as long as it is okay, and I'll feel better, anyway if it doesn't, I won't force it either,” said Dora and added, “I’ve been physically and mentally tired for the last five years, so this little rest will come in handy now.” After Tokyo, it turned out she had mononucleosis, which is why she missed the world championships in September. However, her illness is a thing of the past and she plans to return to the competitions next year after giving birth. “I am still young, I am confident that my body will regenerate quickly. Obviously, it won’t be an easy task with a baby to pull off the many hours of training a week, I trust I will have help and we can solve this task. Of course, the baby and the family will be the most important, but I hope we can bring it together for the good of everyone.”

 

Serbian canoe sprinter Milica Novaković also announced on social media she is expecting her first baby with husband Antun Novaković, Croatian canoe sprinter. “My inseparable sparring partner for the seventh month in a row,” wrote 35-year-old holder of World and European Championships medals as well as European and Mediterranean Games champion on a social media below the photo of her belly. The baby will have excellent sporting genes. Antun Novaković is former junior European Champion and junior world championships medallist.