Mums in judo: Pregnant judoka Sarah Loko Guerschner is over the moon

Twelve years ago 18-year Sarah Loko won a bronze medal at the Tournoi de Paris, the current Grand Slam. Although she always faced the competition in France, from Pavia, Euranie, Harel, La Rizza but always Loko was a fixed part of the French team and won the European team title in 2007 and World team silver in 2008. She won 13 World Cup medals including gold in Qingdao and World Cups in Prague, Cairo and Santiago. After she lost the Olympic Games qualification for London she switched to Belgium and switched from U57kg to U63kg. This year she got married and is pregnant of a baby boy.

Not an easy choice while you consider yourself into your career, right?

Not easy, of course I am happy but I keep on thinking about my future as an high level athlete and if I will be accepted again by my federation when I will be back on the mat. After a long procedure of two years to get the Belgian citizenship and missing Rio Olympics, I was really exhausted and I needed to have a judo break. I was planning to build myself a future in the professional way and also as a fresh married woman. To be honest I didn't expect a baby so quick but now I realize that is the best present that God can give to a woman. My wish is to be ready for the Olympic qualification starting in 2018 but the question is: how to get back on the mat without any sponsors or funding? My situation was already critical before while I was fighting, so I guess the worst is coming...

What was a moment for you that you made a change in your mindset?

The last competition before my pregnancy was in February at European Open in Sofia. I came back at home with a seventh place, the best Belgian result in 63kg but it was probably the most horrible competition of my career. I was totally down mentally and my health was bad as well. The last two years struggling for a passport and surviving financially by using my savings for my goal totally killed me. I have the memory that  while was staying in Belgium I had sometimes less than 30 euros to finish the month. Sometimes I hadn't enough money to pay the ticket to go training and eat. Fortunately, I could rely on the support of the man who is today my husband.

You’re an emotional person, aren’t you?

The fatigue was playing with my feelings and emotions. I remember I was crying at the airport when my husband left me the day before the fight. I had serious lack of iron , I was really down but I had no other option to go and fight.

Did you feel you were under pressure to perform?

The federation was giving us three European Opens and I needed at least one medal to be selected at European Championships in Warsaw. As a consequence, there was no way for me to miss the chance to take part in this event, as I lost before the quarter-final at the previous edition in Kazan. Later this month, I had to cancel Oberwart as I was not able to wake up from my bed and train. I think the most courageous thing as an athlete was to inform my coach I was cancelling the tournament and to admit that I was not in shape. The doctor recommended a long- time break. I think it's where everything started...

What happened to you in May?

May 2017 will be probably the best moment of my life. Not because I learned I was pregnant but in the funny way the things occurred. I was feeling weak since few weeks, was also vomiting but there was no reason for me to be pregnant as my husband and I didn't make plan for that. I decided first to buy a pregnancy test without informing my husband and family. It was on the first week of May and I had to go to the party of my best friend Valériane celebrating her 30 years old in Paris. I was so anxious about the results. Those were the longest three minutes of my life. The result finally arrived : It was positive! 

So how Daniel react?

I directly thought I was having hallucinations . I ran to my husband in that early morning and told him: "Daniel are you ready to be a dad ? Look at this! "There was so much emotions in his face. After giving the news to my family, my elder sister advised me to wait a few days and to do to a blood test to be sure. The results were  confirmed  so I directly went to see a specialist. I would like to thank Myriam Roper that introduced me to my husband three years ago , maybe I wouldn't be the woman  I am today.

You’re an athlete, so how did you deal with sports?

Pregnancy is not disease but a strength. A lot of people still think that it's dangerous to do sport during their pregnancy. In my opinion, all women pregnant without complications should be encouraged to take part in aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises as part of healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. Especially for athletes aiming to continue their career and to welcome baby in the best way.

The first three months of my pregnancy were horrible I was spending all day throwing up, laying in the bed and having pain on the belly that could be dangerous for the baby. I couldn't do sport according to the advises of my doctor, the only solution was rest. Now that I am in the end of the road, the complications are over. I have a the feeling to be a new person. My batteries are full and I can train again with my big baby bump.

So what exercises can you do as a pregnant woman?

My doctor wants me to continue to have a work and sport activity to control my weight . So I try to do one hour training per day like:

•             uchi komis with elastic

•             Posture

•             Walling

•             Swimming

•             Pelvic exercises

•             Yoga and stretching

•             Pilates

I also take part in pregnancy classes. This the price to pay if I want to go back on the tatami next year and be prepared for the birth.

I bet you like to wear judo judogi again?

I can't wait to wear the judogi again. That will be probably next year, but first I will focus on the birth of my Baby boy. Me and his dad don't know if he will be a ura nage or uchi mata specialist, a judoka or a wrestler but we have no doubt he will be a fighter . We see it in the way he is kicking on my belly every day.

But also getting back in your last category U63kg?

I would like to continue to fight in  the highest level the next four years after the birth of my child and try to do a big step in my new weight category, U63kg. I had a hard time losing competitions before the Olympics but I also made results in Continental Opens during the qualification, so everything can happen. A lot of athletes managed to reach their goals after pregnancy so everything is about motivation and courage. All the difficulties that I crossed in the last few years make me a stronger person .

Does your financial position change after being pregnant?

I am just thinking about how I will have to pay for my tournaments and training camps as there will be no help for me from the federation, no sponsors, or help from any company. I am pregnant but I try to work to save money and secure myself for the moment I will go back on the mat. I propose sport and other activities for the kids of a famous French bank in Paris. During the holidays, their parents can work without stress while their children are doing judo and other things... My colleagues are always impressed about me working with my big baby bump and I always tell them: I have African roots and I was born to be a fighter.

Read the three other story about Mums in Judo