US Volleyball Star Back For 3rd Olympics After Giving Birth
Jul 22, 2021, 12:30 PM
(Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
TOKYO (AP) — A third trip to the Olympics was far from a sure thing for U.S. volleyball star Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson when she gave birth to her son in November 2019.
A challenging pregnancy that robbed her of most of her core strength left her questioning whether she could get back to her usual elite level.
Starters for the U.S. Women 🇺🇸 vs Belgium 🇧🇪, Jordyn Poulter, Jordan Larson, Jordan Thompson, Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson, Chiaka Ogbogu, Kelsey Robinson and Justine Wong Orantes!
Watch #VNL2021 LIVE on https://t.co/RDZsh6ecnu 🖥 pic.twitter.com/oNMg6GTsMi
— USA Volleyball (@usavolleyball) June 12, 2021
But Gunderson had set a goal of being both a mother and professional athlete.
She took advantage of the coronavirus-delayed Olympics to make it back this year in search of that elusive gold medal.
Could a crossword puzzle be @TeamUSA's secret weapon to win volleyball gold at @Tokyo2020? 🏐🇺🇸
Veterans Kim Hill and Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson are leading the charge. 💪@fakinradewo | @volleyballworld | @usavolleyball
— Olympics (@Olympics) June 12, 2021
Gunderson helped the U.S. earn bronze with a win over the Netherlands at the Rio de Janeiro Games.