LilSugar

Wonder Women: Olympic Mamas

babysugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:00:57 -0700

While much of the mama focus throughout the Olympics has been on 41-year-old swimmer Dara Torres, she is just one of 20 mothers on Team USA this Summer. Many of these gold medal moms claim that parenting has made them better athletes, often bringing them a new-found perspective on the importance of their sport in their lives. They juggle parenting with intense training regimens and robust travel schedules, leading us to marvel at how they manage it all.

The answer, as many of them confessed on the Today show this morning, is forgoing sleep. While a majority of you told us that you get between six to eight hours of sleep each night, these winning women often perform with minimal shut-eye in order to get the job done.

Tell us, since becoming a parent, what have you sacrificed in order to pursue your dream?

Gold Medal Mama Debbie Phelps

LilSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:00:03 -0700

Golden boy Michael Phelps made Olympic history and his mama proud. Now, Debbie Phelps who has rooted her son on his entire life is being honored. People said:

Johnson's Baby has dubbed Debbie their "Mom of the Olympic Games" - and the company will donate money in her name to children's causes. (She'll also film a commercial for Johnson's on Wednesday.) The award came as a nice surprise for the middle school principal, who tells People, "I am so honored."

While the swimmer's achievements awe people all over the world, the wins are particularly inspiring for children with ADHD. The winningest Olympian was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at nine years old and got help. When teachers told his mother that Michael couldn't focus, she took them to task explaining that he spent hours in the swimming pool. Obviously, his passion paid off with 16 medals.
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Wonder Woman: Dara Torres

babysugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:00:04 -0700

All eyes have been on Olympian golden boy Michael Phelps, but swimmer Dara Torres is in a league of her own. At 41, this mama is the oldest Olympian to ever compete in the aquatic races and this was her fifth time doing so.

After taking silver in the individual 50 meter freestyle and another silver in the 4x100 meter relay, Dara who has one child isn't thinking about how she'll celebrate, she's figuring out how to get back into mommy mode. She told reporters:

The other girls were talking about going backpacking or going to Bali, but I get back on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday morning I have to take my daughter to school and I have a list of school supplies I have to get.

Kudos to this mum for inspiring other women to shoot for the stars - she deserves a gold.
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Gymnast Nastia Liukin Gets Gold for Herself and Her Dad

babysugar — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:00:40 -0700

Like most of the country, I have been glued to the Olympic coverage. In the wee hours of Friday morning, I watched 18–year–old American Nastia Liukin earn the title as the third American woman to win the all around gold medal for the US. Holding my breath and grinding my teeth with every approach she made, I rooted her on. But nobody wanted it more than her dad.

Twenty years ago, her father and coach, Valeri Liukin, won two gold medals for the Soviet Union at the 1988 Olympics. He fell short of winning the overall gold medal in the individual competition by one tenth of a point to a fellow countryman. Interestingly enough, one of the commentators for NBC said that papa is known for saying, "Second is the worst on the world; only one color works for this family." Talk about pressure. After she won the gold, he said:

She fix my mistakes. . . I lose by one-tenth of a point to Vladimir, but she fix that.

Luckily she won the medal for herself, her parents and America. I hope this lil lady doesn't let daddy forget who brought home the gold.
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Would You Allow Your Child to Be Part of a Ruse?

LilSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:10:10 -0700

One child was used for her looks, another for her melodic voice. Lin Miaoke, 9, performed "Ode to the Motherland" for a picture-perfect opening ceremony at the Olympics. Only the song did not emanate from her vocal cords, but those of 7-year-old Yang Peiyi. The switch-a-roo was pulled when officials deemed songbird Yang as not cute enough to command the stage.

While it's unclear if the children or their parents even knew about the ruse, would you let your tot take part in this type of charade?

My Country 'Tis of Thee

babysugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:00:04 -0700

Sweet land of liber–tees, of thee I sing. The Olympics are about to begin, and people are getting amped up to cheer for the Americans heading to Beijing this week. As school is out and camp is coming to a close, my 7–year–old niece is finding solace in the fact that she'll have hours of gymnastics and swimming to watch on the boob tube. Look out, we may have the next Kerry Strug on our hands.

Get your American lovefest fired up with one of these Altru American tees. They're as patriotic as you can get without wrapping yourself in stars and stripes. They'll come in handy when your wee swimmer wants to cheer Michael Phelps onto winning eight gold medals!

Altru-1984 Stars In Motion S/s Tee - $32.00	Altru-Usa 5 Rings S/s Tee - $35.00
Altru-Usa '84 S/s Tee - $35.00

Wonder Woman: Lindsay Davenport

babysugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:00:08 -0800

Beyond being an ace on the court, the 31–year–old tennis superstar is our latest wonder woman. California native Lindsay Davenport has won three Grand Slam tournaments and an Olympic gold medal. After winning the US Open and Wimbledon, she also took top prize in the Australian Open. To learn more about this champion mommy, read more.

In 2006, the 6'2" towering mama took a break from the court to focus on her pregnancy. On June 10, 2007, Lindsay and her husband, Jon Leach, an investment banker and former All–American tennis player, welcomed their son Jagger Jonathan in Newport Beach, Calif.

Just seven months after giving birth, this power mummy won the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, where she celebrated with her baby boy (donning the "Just Do It" logos) on center court. And she's not planning on stopping anytime soon. Lindsay's hoping to play in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

At this rate, she's sure to keep climbing the ranks and bringing home more bacon. Having already earned over $21 million in prize money, she's a Sugarmama. And we can bet that Jagger is going to give the Graf–Agassi kids a run for their money on the courts, too!