There are 20 U.S. women competing at the Beijing Games who are also mothers, some  still competing at the highest level in their sports well into their thirties. Lindsay Davenport, 32, former Olympic champion and once ranked Number 1 in the world, is a prime example.

 

From Maternity Clothes to Olympic Uniform

 

Davenport is not only making a comeback from knee problems but after giving birth just fourteen months ago to a baby boy, Jagger. When she returned from maternity leave, Davenport was ranked 234th in the world and needed to make it to the top 48 in order to even qualify for the Beijing Games. Quickly shaking off the rust of a long layoff, she won her first tournament, the Bali Open in Indonesia.

Davenport's husband and child weren't able to travel with her to the Olympics to see her go for gold in both singles and doubles.  Unfortunately, she was forced to withdraw from the singles competition before it began after a workout last week left her knee too swollen to compete, but she still plans to play doubles, telling NBC that, "physically, doubles is the better choice for me at this time."

Davenport is too hard of a worker to allow her knee problem to get in her way. She told NBC that "for 14 or 15 months it has been my whole goal to be here in Beijing and to be able to compete. So of course there's disappointment. But I knew coming here there was a little bit of a chance that might happen."

Davenport's comeback after giving birth just fourteen months ago prompted praise from super star and fellow U.S. Olympian tennis player Venus Williams, who told NBC that "to do what she's done, I wouldn't be brave enough or strong enough."