Great Britain’s most successful female Olympic athlete Dame Laura Kenny has revealed she suffered a miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
The 29-year-old told social media followers she fell pregnant after the Tokyo 2020 Games but sadly miscarried at nine weeks. She was later hospitalised after being diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, which is when a fertilised egg grows outside the womb.
The five-time gold medallist, who lives in Chelford, Cheshire, with her husband, Bolton's Olympic cyclist Sir Jason Kenny and son Albie, said she would have been “broken” without the help of her family.
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She took to Instagram to share her story, saying: “Since the Olympics we haven't had much luck and it's been the hardest few months I've ever had to go through. Jason and I fell pregnant immediately after the Games and we were both absolutely chuffed to bits.
“But unfortunately in November, when commentating at the Track Champions League, I miscarried our baby at nine weeks. I've never felt so lost and sad. It felt like a part of me had been torn away, Cheshire Live reports.
"I grabbed for my safety blanket, bike riding! And I found myself back in my happy place training again. I then caught Covid in mid-January and found myself feeling really very unwell. I didn't have typical Covid symptoms and I just felt I needed to go to hospital.
“A day later I found myself in A&E being rushed to theatre because I was having an ectopic pregnancy. Scared doesn’t even come close. I lost a falopian [sic] tube that day.
“I’ve always known I was tough, but sometimes life pushes you to an unbearable limit. If it wasn’t for Jason and Albie getting me through the day to day I’d have been broken.”
Since sharing her story yesterday (22 April), Laura says she has been “overwhelmed” by messages of support and other people sharing their similar experiences. Hundreds of fans and friends have commented giving the family their love or offering their own stories in solidarity.
Laura posted on her Instagram story: “I have been completely overwhelmed by all the messages and stories I have received. I knew I was sharing a very personal story to help and support others but I didn’t quite realise how many people would get in touch.
“Anyone who has experienced baby loss, you are not alone and you shouldn’t feel you are. I really hope the stories on my post can help you, like they are me. Thankyou for all your stories, thankyou’s and comments.”
