Going for the Gold

Meet Kerri Walsh

This Manhattan Beach, California, mom of boys ages 2 and 3 won the gold medal in Beach Volleyball in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

Parents: How have you changed since having kids?

Kerri Walsh: I'm happier and more fulfilled. I'm physically strong, and I was able to bounce back well after my pregnancies. I always wanted to be a working mom, and it has been a beautiful shift in mind-set, because being an athlete isn't the be-all and end-all anymore, and that has made me better at my job

Parents: What's been the toughest part?

KW: Trying to be perfect in everything you do, but I'm a mom first and an athlete second. As far as training goes, I just have to be more efficient. Once my husband and I drop the boys off at school, it's a dead sprint to get everything done before we pick them up in the afternoon.

Parents: Has your experience with volleyball made you better at juggling everything?

KW: As an athlete and a mom, you have to be nimble enough to adjust to situations and prepare for everything. You have to have a positive attitude throughout the journey.

Originally published in the August 2012 issue of Parents magazine.