November 12/08 9:02 am - Gunn-Rita DahleFlesjå Expecting

Posted by Editoress on 11/12/08
 

Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå to have a Baby
Courtesy Multivan Merida Biking Team

Record-breaking mountain biker Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå is going to have a baby by April next year. A few days ago, her doctors confirmed her pregnancy. For that reason, Athen’s Olympic champion will not compete in the early races of the 2009 season. The Norwegian plans to return to racing at the Gunn-Rita-Marathon which is dedicated to her and takes place in Montebelluno, northern Italy, on 28th June.

"I am very happy to have a baby in April. I think our child will give me a lot of motivation to dominate the sport as a serial winner again", Dahle commented on her pregnancy. Within mountain biking’s worldcup, she is close to writing history. Already a sixfold World champion, she is only two wins short of breaking a long-standing record.

For the time being, Dahle Flesjå is continuing to train within her capabilities, getting support from Norway's Olympic federation which runs a specific training program for pregnant athletes. "Since 2009’s World championships are scheduled for the second half of the season in late August and September, I have a chance to focus on these important races in the next season despite the pregnancy", she explained her plans for the season coming up.

In mid-October, the 35-year old mountain bike marathon World champion had renewed her contract with the "Multivan Merida Biking Team" for another four years. "Gunn-Rita never made a secret about the fact that she would like to have a baby, so we always knew that this step could come. We are very happy for Gunn-Rita and we are sure that she is going to return to racing in the second half of the 2009 season fully motivated", comments team manager Andreas Rottler.