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Balancing motherhood and the Olympics

The London 2012 Olympic Games are set to begin on Friday, July 27, 2012. Many of the women who are participating in the Summer Games are more than athletes, they are also moms. Let’s learn a little more about three such women — members of Team USA, Christie Rampone, Kerri Walsh and LaShinda Demus.

Christie RamponeChristie Rampone

Team USA Soccer

The 2012 London Games will be the fourth Olympics for Christie Rampone. Rampone has three Olympic medals — silver in 2000 and gold in both 2004 and 2008. Like every mom, Rampone aims to balance her career and her family the best she can.

Christie Rampone and her kids

“I try not [to] control everything and focus more on the important things,” says Rampone. “I do my best to be there for my daughters, always trying to stay ahead of what needs to be done. And I work with our fitness coach, Dawn Scott, to make sure I am going in the right direction with my training and diet. At the end of the day, I cannot force things with my kids or my training for the Olympics. I do the best I can with both and try to prioritize so the things that truly matter are covered. Whether I am training or being a mom, my focus is always 100 percent. I stay in the moment, always. Having an equal balance with both motherhood and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Football Team helps me as a mother and being a captain.”

Even as a world class athlete, Rampone has some of the same concerns of many other moms.

“My [hang-up] has always been my butt and my thighs. But I’m more proud of my body since having kids. This is what I look like and I’m comfortable with it. I’m not a perfect shape, but I’m fit and healthy, so I should be proud of it.”

Read about how to throw a 2012 Olympic party for kids >>

Next up: Meet Olympian and mom, Kerri Walsh >>

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