U.S. Olympic hurdler Christina Clemons sent numerous emails to track and field officials expressing concern about gaps in health insurance coverage for new mothers who still want to compete.
Them baby steps It has become a major breakthrough as american track and field announced Thursday a program to expand its existing birth support system to give athletes more time to prepare for their return. This lowers the bar for women in sports who want to start a family midway through their careers.
for clemonsit’s a way to help carry the baton and follow in the footsteps of Allyson Felix and others who have advocated for equality for mothers on and off the track.
“There’s such a lack of support for mothers in sports in general, which is crazy to me,” said Clemons, 33, who gave birth to her son Cairo on February 4, 2023. And he’s trying to make the U.S. team for this summer’s games in Paris. “This program[by USATF]really fills a gap and saves the day. There’s a lot of pressure to perform in the first year of pregnancy when it’s impossible to do anything. I don’t feel it.”
Under the current system, Team USA athletes receive assistance through Elite Athlete Health Insurance, established by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. This provides coverage for one year after the pregnancy ends, but it is important to note that the athlete is still expected to continue competing. There is also a player allowance.
USATF’s new plan will give athletes more opportunities to recover and re-qualify for funding based on performance and rankings in a tiered system that must be achieved by a certain date. Extend the period. To qualify for tier status, athletes must meet certain criteria, such as being a medalist or finalist in the most recent major competition (Olympic or World Championships) or being in the top 15 in the world rankings. there is. There are also other levels depending on performance.
This season, USATF’s expansion policy includes six players, and the funding is part of the organization’s overall budget. We will reimburse your COBRA medical premiums and provide additional support through USATF’s High Performance Program.
“For us, this is a very simple fix and an important fix,” said Renee Chube Washington, USATF Chief Operating Officer. “Being a new mom or dad is stressful. … If we can alleviate some of that stress, we can and we will.”
forever, women in track and field I’ve encountered similar messages about facing a wall if you get pregnant. The actions of some of the sport’s top runners over the years, including Felix, Carla Goucher and Alicia Montano, are shedding more light on the issue. They successfully lobbied for further protections for the terms of endorsement contracts.
Clemons also wants to help lead the way.
Clemons, a 2018 World Indoor Championships silver medalist in the 60m hurdles, said: “These changes that we as mothers are making are really important because they change the way we look at women who become mothers while continuing to compete.” Ta. She says, “Many women wait to finish their careers and become mothers because they’re afraid they won’t have support. We put our lives on hold when men don’t have to.” No need to.”
In addition, USATF is exploring ways to provide parent athletes with childcare options at major events.
“This is all part of a holistic approach to supporting athletes,” Washington said. “That’s part of the secret sauce that makes the difference to get us on the podium, and that’s where we want to be.”
A new health insurance contract for Clemmons. It was a game changer.
Clemons competed until she was two and a half months pregnant, and her last race was at the 2022 U.S. Outdoor Championships in June. As she did not officially return to training until October last year, she did not get a chance to re-earn her tier benefits by the September deadline. She sent email after email to her officials expressing her concerns.
The new program gives her a grace period to obtain tier status. Clemons was selected to represent the United States at last month’s World Indoor Championships, where she reached the semifinals in the hurdles. But it was in a race two weeks ago that she matched her personal best time that she felt she had truly recovered.
“What USATF has done to fix this (gap) is huge for mothers,” said Clemons, who is preparing for the U.S. Olympic trials in June to earn a ticket to Paris. said. “I appreciate it very much.
“I have the support I need. I am really motivated to join this team and come home with a medal.”
