My wife fought harder and with more grit than any athlete I had ever seen or coached in my 25 years in the sport. Compared to her, they were all soft. ‘Come on babe, nearly there, our boy is coming.’ I realised right there that I had never suffered much in training or racing before. She looked like she could have done an ironman, with the power of love and determination and fuelled only by water and oxytocin. The ultimate target, releasing the fruit of our love into this world. The finish line, such a reachable target for her. She calmed her breath while his little heart accelerated. I held her hand firmly; I wanted to help but I felt powerless. I panicked when blood and sweat created a ring of fire all around her. From womb to the world, such a short road to travel but it felt so far at the same time. My appreciation and respect for her went to a new height that day, for women in general. She fought like a warrior; I admired her strength. She preserved her raw beauty even with the sweat pouring down her face and her hair glued to her forehead. Although the long hours of labour that didn’t want to come to an end threatened to overwhelm her.
The hour had come, it was nearly midnight. The room felt so hot and a sharp sound erupted in the air, waking up a sleepy ward.After 36 hours of unbearable pain, our big boy was born on June the 8th 2011 at Geelong hospital. We kissed and congratulated each other for the amazing little human we just put on this earth.
That was the best day of my life, and I am sure it was hers too. My wife was simply incredible. We finally drove home as a family for the first time, and I carried my boy Jake with pride to his home. I wanted to show the world, tell them that we had achieved something profound. I felt like I never had achieved anything before. This was something worth a thousand times more than any trophies, titles or medals I had previously won. I was so proud to hold this little being in my arms. I went through the front door and introduced him to our dog, Caline. She sniffed our long-awaited miracle knitted by the Gods, all along having been unsure of the secret in Mum’s belly. Welcome home, my son.