There’s a pregnant Olympian, y’all!

Kristie Moore, 30, is five-and-a-half months pregnant, and she’s an alternate on the Canadian women’s curling team. When I heard about this, my first response was WOW! My second was … what the heck is curling?

Read 7 Memorable Olympics Moments

Luckily, The Simpsons devoted an entire episode recently to mocking the sport, so I got filled in:

Basically, it looks like a cross between shuffleboard and really, really mellow hockey. Oh, yeah, and instead of hockey sticks they use brooms. Really.

According to Yahoo Sports, Moore is only the third pregnant Olympian in history. Ninety years ago, Magda Julin, a very determined Swedish figure skater, took the gold whilst in her first trimester (and in my humble opinion they should have given her TWO gold medals – I spent my first trimester frantically searching for receptacles to barf into). And Germany’s Diana Sartor was preggers when she took fourth in the skeleton at the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, which is totally mind-boggling.

Of course, there are already those who are crying out against what they says is Moore’s irresponsibility. Article commenters are saying things like, “So you're gonna risk your child's life for a medal? How selfish is that,” and, “If she falls on her stomach the baby is done ... not a good choice for a mother.” People, please. Surely if her baby was in dire danger, Moore’s ob-gyn would let her know, and she’d withdraw. But it’s not like she’s a downhill skier or a hockey player, and one things for sure – she’s going to be one of the healthiest, fittest moms-to-be around. Hello post-baby-body magazine cover!

Reportedly, Moore found out about her pregnancy just a couple of weeks before she was asked to join the team, and her fellow curlers were all supportive once they heard the news. Team leader Cheryl Bernard says Kristie “is young and fit. There's no reason we'll have any problems, and she'll be out there.”

Of course, barring any serious curling accidents, Moore being an alternate, probably won’t see any action. But there’s just something so fabulous to me about seeing her, and her “bump” in uniform. I can’t help it, I don’t care if it’s a cliché – I just want to jump on my couch and yell YOU GO, GIRL!

And what an awesome story Moore will have to tell her baby! Mommy took you to the Olympics before you were even born. Talk about teaching a great lesson by example. Life doesn’t stop when you have kids; you don’t have to leave your old self behind, or give up your dreams, or become a completely different person. You adapt, and grow (ha - literally), and if the timing is right (and you can see your feet), you lace up your shoes and get out there on the playing field. Yes! Go, Kristie! I’ll be rooting for you and your team and the unborn baby who has one of the most inspiring moms around.

April Daniels Hussar is BettyConfidential's Deputy Editor. Check out our Winter Olympics blog starting Wednesday February 24 for updates from Vancouver!

Photo source