Surfer Luke Egan, sports journalist Jess Yates announce pregnancy

Sports journalist Jess Yates and her surfer husband Luke Egan discuss their health battles and share some joyous news about their family.

Sports journalist Jess Yates always looks on the bright side. The 37-year-old is a longtime sufferer of severe migraines, so much so that she undergoes a brain MRI every year to check for any changes or abnormalities.

Yet the enforced handbrake of the pandemic combined with her health battles has afforded her some valuable life lessons.

“I’m a workaholic – I just love my job,” the Fox Sports Supercars host tells Stellar.

“But I’m no good to anyone if I’m unwell, and now it’s about managing my condition. I’ve suffered from migraines since I was 14. I probably didn’t realise because I travel so much for work; I love it, but I was a bit burnt out. Not having to get on a plane and being able to just work at the studio has been a godsend for me.”

In more good news for Yates, she and her husband, former pro-surfer Luke Egan, 50, are expecting their second child.

”It’s taken us a bit of time to get to this moment so we’re grateful. (Picture: Tim Ashton)

Their baby boy will join daughter Isabella, 7, in April next year, and add to the growing creche at Fox Sports headquarters – fellow sports broadcaster Tara Rushton is expecting her second child early next year and Lara Pitt recently welcomed her third.

“This was a long time coming,” says Yates from their beachside home just south of Sydney.

“It’s so exciting, and Isabella is thrilled about having a brother. It’s taken us a bit of time to get to this moment so we’re grateful. We’ve wanted a bigger family for a really long time. We’ve been married nine years in February and with our busy schedules, it’s been difficult to make it all work out. This is one of the upsides of COVID: we’ve spent more time together as a family, so it’s all worked out beautifully.”

On tour, Egan was a surfer’s surfer – his dogged man-of-few-words persona, no-fuss ability and laissez-faire personality rattled opponents and garnered respect. But he can’t help gushing as he talks about the prospect of raising a little boy.

“I was startled to find out we were having a boy. I didn’t think it was possible… it may seem like a strange thing to say, but it was a totally different feeling to find out we’re having a son,” Egan tells Stellar.

“I’m surrounded by so many great women in my life and I was pumped to be having another girl in the house. I just automatically thought that we’d be having another girl, but when we found out we were having a boy, I thought, ‘This is going to be a whole new learning experience for me.’”

“It’s so exciting, and Isabella is thrilled about having a brother.” (Picture: Tim Ashton)

The physical impact of pregnancy has been particularly tough on Yates. “As part of the pregnancy, I’m suffering vertigo and when it’s bad I lose vision and feeling down one side of my body. Then I get dizzy and it’s like being inside of a washing machine,” she explains.

“I also realised I should have been having certain conversations with my doctor earlier. I was suddenly at this moment when we wanted to start a family but it wasn’t straightforward, and when you start talking with your girlfriends you realise there’s a real need for this dialogue.

“In your early 20s, you’re not worried about reproductive health and the impact birth control can have long term. It’s not until you get to the point when you want it all to happen and it’s kind of too late, because you don’t really understand your own body.”

Egan may have seen some treacherous swells and gutsy efforts during his 22 years on the world tour, but he nominates his wife as the most courageous and resilient person he’s ever met.

“I’ve worked with elite athletes, but to see Jess go through some of her battles, and also knowing what it takes for some women to actually fall pregnant, they’re the greatest acts of courage and sacrifice. And Jess is adamant she won’t take any medication while she’s pregnant,” he says.

“What I love about Jess is that she wants to be the best sports host there is.” (Picture: Supplied)

“I do worry about her. With her health, it can be quite stressful at times. I worry that she may be driving the car or away from home with no help, and the migraines and vertigo can be so severe at times. And it’s just such a mystery trying to work out what activates them.”

Yates, who returned to her role at Fox Sports soon after having Isabella in 2013, again plans to take only a short break from the job when her next baby arrives.

Fox Sports executive director Steve Crawley says: “What I love about Jess is that she wants to be the best sports host there is – she doesn’t want to be the best woman host, she wants to be the best. She’s worked hard and now she’s world-class. It’s no fluke.”

With this year’s competition calendar cancelled, the World Surf League season has recalibrated and will start again in December, which means that Egan, who coaches pro surfer Julian Wilson, will head to Hawaii with the matrimonial promise to be home by February – at the latest.

Jess Yates and Luke Egan feature in this Sunday’s Stellar.

“I’ve said to him: ‘Mate, you can’t miss this birth!’” Yates says with a laugh.

“Usually the Supercars season doesn’t finish till late November/early December, and then I take some time off before the cricket season starts. Isabella and I would normally be on a flight over to Hawaii to spend that time with Luke, but it’s been so busy and we just built a new house, so Isabella and I are going to stay home and enjoy it and spend Christmas with my family [here].

“This year has been challenging for a lot of us, but there are a lot of positives – and I’m most looking forward to that moment when Isabella gets to meet her brother.”

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Originally published as Surfer Luke Egan, sports journalist Jess Yates announce pregnancy