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FWC on Sport Nation guideMichaela Brake lifts lid on mother-athlete challenges
Savannah Lendich Jonkers • July 10th, 2026 5:10 pm
Michaela Brake | Photo: Photosport
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Michaela Brake has conquered some of the biggest challenges in world sport, but she says nothing has tested her more than becoming a mother.
The Black Ferns Sevens star who holds the all-time try-scoring record for the women's SVNS welcomed son Harvey three months ago and admits the transition into motherhood has been far tougher than she ever expected.
“It's a bit of a journey, not gonna lie. It's probably the hardest thing that I've ever done in my life.
“I have two Olympic golds so I have definitely challenged my mind and body in ways that only about 1% of the world has ever done and the fact that I'm raising my son and going into the chapter of motherhood is the hardest thing I've ever done.”
The Black Ferns Sevens won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics | Photo: Iain McGregor/Photosport
While she is now embracing life with Harvey, Brake says the early months were particularly difficult as she navigated the physical and mental demands of postpartum recovery.
“If you asked me two months ago, I'd have been like, what have I done?”
For an athlete whose identity has long been built around speed and physical performance, the changes brought by pregnancy and childbirth were confronting.
“I've been predominantly fit, fast and strong for the past 15 years so going from being pregnant to early postpartum and my whole body changing dramatically was something that took a while for me to get over.”
Adding to the challenge was an emergency caesarean section, which required a lengthy recovery.
“I had to obviously recover from pretty much having a serious surgery, which I haven't had. I've been quite lucky with my rugby where I haven't had serious injuries before so it was the first time where I had something quite serious happen to my body.”
The dramatic shift in her physical condition also took a toll mentally.
“I guess it messed with me mentally, but obviously my body physically was so different that I really struggled to enjoy the process because I went from obviously playing league to being pregnant so obviously my training changed dramatically there to suddenly struggling to get out of bed.
“It was just a lot of challenges that I wasn't used to in my life.”
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Brake also spoke about experiencing baby blues and postpartum anxiety, admitting she underestimated just how powerful the hormonal changes would be.
“I underestimated all the classic baby blues and postpartum anxiety things that people talk about. I was like, ‘nah, I'll be alright’ because I've been an athlete for such a long time, like I would confidently say that before I got pregnant, that mentally I was quite a strong person. Like I just got on with it and trained hard. And then all of a sudden, like your hormones just change overnight.
“It's just a literal flick of a switch, and your life has just completely turned, I don't want to say upside down, but it's just made a massive change.”
Despite the challenges, Brake says becoming a mother has transformed her perspective on rugby and life.
“I've been telling quite a few people now that I'm a part-time rugby player and full-time mum, so I think my mindset will definitely be different because at the end of the day, if I have an average training or let's say, it never happens, but let's we lose a World Series tournament, my son's waiting for me at home.
“Rugby has been my life for such a long time and I've struggled to prioritise other things outside of that but this time I have no choice but to prioritise my son because he's the light of my life. He's number one from now on.”
Brake is preparing for a return to the sevens programme after re-signing in May, and says she is approaching the challenge with excitement and nervousness.
“I am anxious, but I'm really excited about the challenge and I'm obviously not the first to have done it. I won't be the last.”
The 29-year-old insists the plan was always to return to sevens following her short stint at the Warriors before falling pregnant midway through the season.
“I think a lot of people assumed that I was retiring because I got pregnant while playing for the Warriors but I always wanted to come to sevens and I'm not quite ready to hang the boots up but I'm now committed to give it a crack while being a mum.”
While some are already asking whether she will return to the NRLW with the Warriors, Brake says her focus remains firmly on sevens and family, however the door is not closed.
Michaela Brake played 4 games for the Warriors | Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport
“The thing with playing for the Warriors is that you have to live in Auckland, so I would only do it post LA 2028, which is obviously the Olympic Games, if my husband and Harvey can live with me in Auckland, because there's no way that I'd live away from them.
“It's definitely not something that I'm putting on paper because if I put it down as a goal on paper, then I've got to do it.
Brake praised New Zealand Rugby for the support it has provided throughout her and other female athletes during pregnancy and their return to competition.
“If you get selected for a tour or a match, you can bring baby and a support person up until the age of one and so the fact that we have all these policies in place for us to be able to focus on being an athlete and a mum at the same time is incredible.
“It's important to share that we have that privilege because it should be the case in every single sport for all females because obviously getting pregnant and giving birth is nature, it's a part of life for us women and we shouldn't just be disregarded just because we got pregnant or just had a baby.”
She remains grateful for the faith New Zealand Rugby has shown in her during this stage of her life.
“Very lucky to have the support by the New Zealand Rugby Union. They didn't have to re-contract me, but they see my potential and they see the value that I give to the squad and so the fact that they're still willing to support me in this time of my life makes me feel very grateful.”
As she balances motherhood with the pursuit of another Olympic campaign, Brake’s goal is simple.
“All I can do is the best that I can while being a mum for the next couple of years leading into the Olympics and try and get myself back to being the Olympian that I know that I could be and hopefully that can be my way of saying thank you to the New Zealand Rugby Union.”
Listen to the full interview below:
