Sydney Flames star Lauren Nicholson pens return to WNBL six weeks post child birth

Lauren Nicholson was at the gym six weeks ago when she went into labour. Now the WNBL champion has penned her return to the court in what could be the quickest comeback ever.

Australian basketball star Lauren Nicholson was at the gym when she went into labour just six weeks ago, and she’s already plotting her comeback to the WNBL.

In the middle of April and at 38 and a half weeks, Nicholson became a first-time mum when she introduced baby boy Ari to the world with her partner Jacob.

Incredibly, in that same week she was not only pushing through a gym routine, but she went for a 5km run.

“I was really lucky, I was a little bit sick in the first trimester, but it didn’t really stop me from working out,” Nicholson told Code Sports.

“I was able to run and lift weights the whole way through, which was nice.

“I did my last five km run at 38 weeks and I had Ari at 38 and four (days).”

When asked if she was joking, she laughed “no, I know!”

Lauren Nicholson will return to the Flames next WNBL season. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Nicholson, 32, was cheering from the sidelines last season but six weeks post birth has penned her return to the WNBL court, re-signing with the Sydney Flames for another two seasons which she says is “a little daunting but exciting.”

The WNBL champion did “everything that I could as well as I could” to quickly bounce back to the game while allowing herself to settle into her new-found life.

“It’s six weeks post (birth) but I gave myself a two-week period after giving birth to just relax and enjoy having a baby and whatever else,” Nicholson said.

“I’ve only just started back on the court lightly now.

“But I’m so excited to be back and just shoot and see if I can still do it.”

Maternity leave came at a “pretty good time” for the two-time WNBL Defensive Player of the Year, who made her league debut in 2009 as a teenager and hasn’t had a chance to stop since.

“When I stopped playing I didn’t really know if I was going to come back or not,” Nicholson said.

“I felt like I needed a little bit of a break.

“But I quickly knew from sitting on the sidelines in the first couple of months that I definitely wanted to play again and it actually made me realise how much I love basketball.”

A rapid comeback not only for her desire to play the game, but because her playing status is her livelihood, is a challenge that many female athletes face across their careers.

By the time the WNBL starts with pre-season matches in September, Ari will be about five months old.

“I can’t take another season off if I want to keep making money and playing the sport,” the returning Flame said.

“Also just for the fact that I want to prove to myself and to other people that it can be done.

“I think it’s cool for other females to see that it is possible and we can go away, take maternity leave and return to what we do.”

Nicholson signs on to the Flames alongside the returning Shaneice Swain and Emma Clarke, with Guy Molloy building out a roster to contend for the title, continuing on the path that saw them play finals last season, for the first time in seven years.

Lauren Nicholson signs on just six weeks after having her first child. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Shaneice Swain also returns to the Flames after a stint in the WNBA. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

“Guy has built something from the ground up at the Flames and he’s building towards winning a championship,” Nicholson said.

“He came when it wasn’t in the greatest shape and I think he has built a bit of a foundation there, I could see that from the first season playing under him.

So what does returning to the demands of elite sport actually look like for Nicholson who is set to embark on this new combo mum/athlete role?

“He’s (Ari) not a great sleeper at night, which definitely tests me,” Nicholson said.

“Then the day rolls around and he’s smiling, you know he’s really cute and it just makes it all worth it.”

“But I mean he’s (Ari) going to be right in it.

“He’ll be at some practices straight off the bat and he’ll come on most of our trips I’m sure.

“He’ll be a part of the little extended family that we have (at the Flames), I’m looking forward to him being around it from such a young age.”

Originally published as Sydney Flames star Lauren Nicholson pens return to WNBL six weeks post child birth