Life

Ex-Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott on new Motherhood podcast

The former world champion ski-racer turned podcaster Chemmy Alcott talks to Gabrielle Fagan about why parenting is her toughest challenge to date

Former Winter Olympian Chemmy Alcott has a new podcast about motherhood
Former Winter Olympian Chemmy Alcott has a new podcast about motherhood Former Winter Olympian Chemmy Alcott has a new podcast about motherhood

CHEMMY Alcott competed in four Winter Olympics and is Britain's most successful female World Cup alpine racer, so she knows a thing or two about facing challenges.

She spent 20 years hurtling down mountains, breaking a whopping 47 bones during her career until a double fracture in her right leg eventually forced her retirement in 2014.

Now, she's on a different journey – parenting – and the 36-year-old admits this is by far the toughest challenge she's ever faced. It's a topic she explores in her podcast series Motherhood, which is full of 'make it real' tales of broken nights, teething and the trials and tribulations of breastfeeding, mixed with the joys of parenthood.

Alcott and her husband, 25 times British ski champ Dougie Crawford, have two sons – Lochlan (known as Lockie), who's two, and seven-week-old Cooper.

"I'm totally fulfilled by my kids," says Alcott, "but I'm happy to admit I've found motherhood is 100 per cent tougher than skiing!

"When you're skiing or an athlete, it's all about you – your aim is to make yourself stronger, faster, and reach your goals. It's a very selfish existence. But when you're a mother, it's all about the responsibility of someone else who's completely unknown to the world, so fragile, so new. It's really challenging, scary and lovely all at the same time."

"Dougie and I totally co-parent, he's devoted and hands-on. But I was on my own with the boys – Cooper was only three weeks – when he had to go away on a job. Lockie was teething, Cooper was struggling to feed as he had tongue tie, I was exhausted and almost at breaking point, and it's the first time in my life that I reached out and said, 'I need help'.

"I even went on Facebook and asked, 'Can anyone hold a baby for a couple of hours?!' I don't want to come across like this perfect celebrity mum, who snapped back into shape instantly and took coping with two little ones in my stride."

"Just like any other mum, as well as experiencing the amazing highs at a few points, at others I've relied on TV to entertain the two-year-old and reached for the biscuits to give me fast energy.

"Dealing with an energetic toddler and a new baby and a career is full-on. It can be just as fun and also as scary, exciting and demanding as any ski challenge."

Here, Hove-born Alcott tells us more...

:: What do you share on the podcasts that could help other mums?

"I think motherhood's a mix of mayhem and meaningfulness, and I talk about that real experience and hopefully share help from experts. We're all happy to share the up times on social media, and I do that myself, but we don't often record the down times. I'm very honest when I speak on my podcasts but my social media may set out a bit of a rose-tinted image and that's something I want to change, but it takes confidence to do that.

"One of my podcasts is called 'Boobs', and focuses on the different attitude I have to them now. I used to want people to look at my boobs. I thought it would detract from my large bottom (even though I was proud of my athletic frame and knew I needed strong gluts to perform at the highest level, I was still self-conscious of its size!).

"My relationship with my boobs has now changed – their role is no longer to attract attention but to serve an amazing purpose. Now I am a mum, and when I go out, I will not hide in pub or cafe toilets to breastfeed. I am lucky to have the confidence to do so and I talk to a breastfeeding expert."

:: Would you like to have more children?

"I don't want any more. If we were outnumbered by children, it would mean Lockie and Cooper's experiences would be lessened, because we wouldn't be able to give them the attention we think they deserve. It's really exciting now I know I've got my team for life.

"Of course, we want them to love skiing and the mountains. Lockie went on skis at 14 months and we'll put Cooper on when he's ready, but secretly, I can't bear the thought of them following in mine and Dougie's footsteps and risking themselves downhill racing. That's just a mother's instinct, but I wouldn't ever stop them pursuing their passion, whatever it is – I always have."

:: Do you miss competing?

"I'd spent 20 years of my life not even having to say my surname, because I was defined as 'Chemmy the skier'. Overnight, that ended. So yes, I do [miss it], but I've moved on.

"The only reason I retired was because I have a 15-inch metal nail embedded in my right leg to hold it together after a compound open fracture in 2010. A surgeon told me if I crashed again he'd have to amputate it.

"It was important for me to have a baby quickly after retiring, so I could have a new role and focus. Having Lockie gave me fulfilment and focus in one."

:: To listen to Chemmy Alcott's podcasts, visit soundcloud.com/user-413352860