Elite kayaker Alyce Wood is 32 weeks' pregnant and admits she's an unusual sight on Gold Coast canals where she trains.
"A lot of people look at me when I'm paddling and wonder what's going on," she said.
"The belly is definitely protruding over my legs now and it's a little bit harder to rotate and paddle properly, so it does look a bit odd.
"I am not ready to finish paddling just yet."
The 29-year-old represented Australia in sprint kayaking at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Wood said her decision to continue paddling while pregnant surprised many who had assumed she would retire from the sport.
"That really kind of hurt me … so I've been quite vocal about what I'm doing and what my intentions are," she said.
"There's not a lot of research in the area, so we're kind of going in a little bit blind.
"We're taking things as they come, which is a little bit scary, but pretty exciting to try to set a precedent and pave the way for girls in the future."
The Australian Institute of Sport is conducting research into pregnant athletes and women's health.
Wood's training data is being monitored by CQUniversity (CQU) senior lecturer Melanie Haymen, who is based in Rockhampton.
"Twenty years ago we wouldn't have been able to fathom that we would have women exercising during pregnancy, let alone elite athletes.
"With Alyce, we are able to get a better understanding of what these women are actually capable of and what we might be able to do moving forward with elite athletes and recreational athletes during pregnancy."
Wood said it was not unusual for women in other countries to continue canoeing after becoming a mother.
"In Australia, it's more unusual. The last person to fall pregnant, have a baby, and come back was my mother-in-law.
"My husband is now 28 so it's been a long time since it's happened in Australia."
Anna Wood won a bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, two years after giving birth to her son Jordan Wood, who also represented Australia in kayaking.
Training modified
Paddle Australia women's sprint kayak coach Rene Olsen said it was only the second time he had coached a heavily pregnant athlete.
"There has been a lot of females, top athletes, who have gone through pregnancies and come back," he said.
"We have a very good plan of what we're trying to achieve and the things that Alyce is trying to achieve this year are different from the rest of the group.
Olsen said Wood's training regime would make her return to the sport easier once she delivers her baby.
"Alyce is listening to her body and making adjustments when she's feeling things differently," he said.
"It's about good planning, but being able to flex when you need to."
Wood said she was not sure when she would stop paddling.
"I'll paddle until I'm uncomfortable, but at the moment I'm 32 weeks pregnant and still comfortable in the boat," she said.
That will include gym work, swimming, and riding a stationary bike.
Wood is due to give birth in June and her goal is to represent Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
