Julie-Ann Russell: Returning to Elite Fitness

Julie-Ann Russell did not contemplate the influence of motherhood on her athletic career until her twenties. She fondly recalls athletes exiting their sporting careers to start families, a sight she now regards as unfortunate. When she was just 13, Julie-Ann commenced playing for the Republic of Ireland. Despite participating vigorously in football and other sports such as GAA and basketball until her late teenage years, Julie-Ann had always anticipated having children someday.

In the world of football, where same-sex relationships are prevalent, it was common for the partners to get pregnant. Julie-Ann remembers those discussions amongst team members. Some of her colleagues mentioned the possibility of carrying a child after they stopped playing. While these thoughts crossed Julie’s mind, she never decided with conviction whether she wanted to pause her career for a child, or halt it completely. She believed in letting life take its course.

However, when Julie-Ann found out she was expecting, she assumed her international playing career was over. She persisted with her football training until around five months into her pregnancy, focusing on running, passing, and shooting exercises.

Julie-Ann Russell says regaining elite athlete fitness levels and stamina post-childbirth was far from simple. Despite the complications, she stayed active throughout her pregnancy. She jogged alone till approximately the 28th week and stopped as she needed to use the washroom frequently. Julie-Ann even kept her CrossFit routine intact during her whole pregnancy. Attempting to initiate labour, she attended a CrossFit session on her due date.

Early in her pregnancy, Julie-Ann featured in several matches before electing to halt her participation. She was upfront about her condition from the beginning, noting, “I was eager to avoid misleading people by claiming an injury. Furthermore, I believe there’s a significant stigma attached to miscarriages, and should I have had one with Rosie, I would want people to be aware. I wouldn’t conceal it. Hence, revealing my pregnancy prior to the 12-week mark didn’t bother me.”

Her colleagues were thrilled upon hearing the news, responding with complete positivity. Given her age and the fact that she had been married for a year, they were not overly surprised, yet joy fully filled the air.

Julie-Ann stands alone in the current Republic of Ireland team as the only woman to become a mother. It involves a difficult journey bouncing back from having a child and achieving top-notch athlete fitness and stamina once again. Despite this, she treads confidently, giving herself a metaphorical pat on the back every now and again.

Her daughter, Rosie, who was delivered via an emergency C-section, described the birth as not feeling like a dire emergency and has said she would opt for a C-section if she was to have another child. She found both the birth and the subsequent recovery to be satisfactory, though recognising that this is not the case for all women.

Julie-Ann, a player for Galway United, took an absolute respite for six weeks post-delivery. She initiated some gentle running during the seventh and eighth weeks, slowly reintegrating herself back into football. She avoided any contact sports until the twelfth week in order to prevent exacerbating her C-section scar. Her proactiveness extended to her health as she sought out a pelvic floor physiotherapist after the first six to seven weeks.

Rejoining her team while still breastfeeding posed a set of logistical challenges. Timing was of utmost importance for Julie-Ann, who had to strategically plan feeding and training times. Fortunately, the close proximity of her training location to her house added some convenience to her routine.

Coordinating the games proved to be a little more tricky for Julie-Ann. She had to ask the coach not to take the team bus to and from games as she was nursing Rosie, her baby, and couldn’t be away for too long. Thus, dealing with these logistical issues called for someone to mind her child while she was away. Julie-Ann and her husband drove to the game, having agreed on this arrangement.

Feeding Rosie before the match was a must to prevent discomfort and she was always there for the feeding sessions after the game. If Rosie didn’t nap, Julie-Ann made sure to carry a pump along. It certainly required careful planning on her part.

During Rosie’s first birthday celebration, an email notifying her selection in the initial squad arrived. A week later, the coach queried her intended future with the team.

Her time with the Irish team was pleasant, at times unexpectedly so. She hadn’t initially planned on taking Rosie to the camp, likely since it was an unprecedented situation. However, Julie-Ann had observed, over social media, parents in the US and Australia who would take their children to camps, which she found intriguing. The invitation was a pleasant surprise, and she wasn’t intending to be a disruptive force.

Julie-Ann inquired the coach about Rosie’s visitation in the camp, only to be reassured that Rosie would be accompanying her. The management was particularly considerate, understanding she had been continuously with Rosie during her maternity leave. The board was fantastic, even asking Julie-Ann for a hand in formulating policy for the FAI.

Rosie was a significant part of the camp activities, but didn’t participate in the trainings or team meetings. She was present at all meal sessions and in the players’ lounge. Julie-Ann appreciates having Rosie around, as she brought a wave of positive energy to the team. In addition to this, her husband was an enormous support to her as well in this journey.

Julie-Ann, not only renowned for serving as a soccer player for Galway United and representing Ireland, also upholds the position of a sales manager at Microsoft handling the UK market. Despite her accomplishments, she finds herself battling the infamous guilt many parents feel. Julie-Ann attests to experiencing this guilt, especially now that she returns to work and her daughter Rosie is left with a childminder, barely getting to spend time with her.

On most days, Julie-Ann manages to snatch an hour and 15 minutes with Rosie before heading to training at 6pm. Even though Rosie’s bedtime is 7pm, which adds only an additional hour, she feels that this time is significant in Rosie‘s young life.

Training during evenings and playing games on weekends don’t make it any easier, as those are the times she’s away for the entire day. On the brighter side, Rosie attending her matches provides immense joy to Julie-Ann.

At 33, Julie-Ann is relishing every moment of being a mother. However, the thought of possibly having another child may signal the culmination of her sporting career in its current guise. She reveals that she has been contemplating the difficulties of pregnancy with advancing age and is trying to determine an optimal time.

The possibility of making a comeback to an elite level status in Ireland after having another child seems distant. Hence, it’s not an easy choice for her, especially as she wants her daughter Rosie to have sibling.

One of her unforgettable experiences is having Rosie watch her play for Ireland. As Julie-Ann anticipates her selection for upcoming away matches, she’s also strategizing logistics. She is currently part of the Irish team for the Euro Qualifying double-header against Georgia, with the inaugural match set to take place in Tbilisi, coming Friday.

She entertains the thought of how things could turn out if Ireland manages to secure a place in Euro 2025 and Julie-Ann is selected to be a part of the team. “It would be a must to take her with me,” she asserts, “There’s not a chance I’d abandon her behind.”

However, her true sentiments lie not in whether or not Rosie decides to step into her football shoes. “I find that kids develop a disliking and bear grudges when they are forced into something. Instead, I will merely provide her with various choices to engage as deeply as she desires – that includes every sport, every activity, whether that be music or even dance.” she conveyed.

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