Just when the reality sank in that Serena Williams won her most recent grand slam title while pregnant, along comes Alysia Montaño.
According to NBC Sports, Montaño represented the United States in the USATF Outdoor Championship last Thursday by running an 800M race while four months pregnant. If that’s not amazing enough, the race took place in 100 degree weather.
This is the second time she’s competed pregnant, running in 2014 while eight months pregnant.
“[In 2014] women let me know that my journey and my story had inspired them in so many different ways,” Montaño said. “I think there’s something about coming out to any venue, not really expecting to win, but just going along with the journey and seeing what comes out of it. And that’s the most beautiful part for me, being a track and field athlete, the platform that I have, I feel so responsible to be a representative of people who don’t have the same platform, don’t have the same voice that I do.
“I represent so many different people. I represent women. I represent black women. I represent pregnant women. Not everybody has the same platform that I do. I think it’s my responsibility to make sure I’m a voice and advocate for them.”
In addition to the extra weight, Montaño ran without an apparel sponsor after Asics left her hanging until December just to say they were not interested in retaining her for 2017. Montaño finished the race in 2:21.40
To watch her full race, flip the page.