Australian Olympic gold medallist Chloe Esposito reveals baby joy

Shock gold medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games Chloe Esposito has shared her delight at the birth of her first child.

Olympic gold medallist Chloe Esposito and her husband Matt Cooper have welcomed their first child into the world and she has shared her joy on Instagram.

The modern pentathlon gold medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games shocked the world when she crossed the line first with an Olympic record, having started the running and shooting combined event in seventh, making up a 45 second handicap to claim the title, Australia’s first medal in the event.

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But Esposito shocked the Australian Olympic team when she announced in January that she was going to sit out the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with her first child to be born in August.

Ted Daniel Cooper arrived at about 38 weeks according to Esposito’s previous posts, being born on July 29 at 4.07kg.

It was also reported that Esposito had 24 hours in labour.

“Totally and utterly in love. He didn’t make it easy but we finally get to welcome Ted into the world. My heart is so full and I can’t wait to get him home,” she wrote.

While lovely personal news, it’s good news for the Australian Olympic team as well with the gold medallist potentially able to defend her modern pentathlon title in Japan in 2021.

Having withdrawn from the Australian Olympic team when the Olympics was scheduled to start July 24, Esposito had said on social media that “Defending my title will have to wait another four years.”

“My priorities will change but the challenge of pregnancy to podium is a powerful dream,” she wrote.

Esposito then revealed to Channel 7 in March that the Olympic suspension could see her target Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024.

“Now I know that has happened – it’s very unfortunate for athletes around the world – but it’s good, I guess, on my side. I’ll have the baby see how we go but it’s definitely got my mind ticking over now,” she said at the time.

“It was out of my mind for the moment, I was hoping for Paris 2024, but now both might be on the cards, which would be lovely.

“If all goes well, and we’ll see how it goes when I do have a child, but I think a year (of training) could be realistic. I never ever thought I’d be in this situation. It’s a bit surreal.”

Australia is hoping for another celebration like this from Chloe Esposito.

Australia’s fingers are crossed as since her Olympic victory, Esposito has become one of the sport’s best.

Modern pentathlon includes fencing, swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting and cross-country running.

But after taking a year off after winning Australia’s first modern pentathlon medal, let alone gold medal, Esposito won the 2018 World Cup final to become number one in the sport, before injuries sidelined her until her pregnancy.