Whitney McClintock Rini is a Canadian water skier from Cambridge, Ontario. McClintock is a nine-time world champion. McClintock has also won thirteen Pan American Games medals (four gold and seven silver). She gave birth to a baby boy a year back named, Zane and is married to Matt Rini, who is a Waterski coach.
In this interview, Whitney Mini shares her journey on pregnancy, her fitness routine during pregnancy, and after childbirth finally returning to winning water-skiing with her little one. This interview is especially to encourage sportswomen to opt for motherhood.
In the words of Whitney “Pregnancy is the most miraculous, terrifying, and beautiful experience in life. Motherhood is the most exhausting, rewarding, heart exploding, and overwhelming lovely gift I could have ever been given.”
Women Fitness caught in touch with Eight-time world champion in water skiing Whitney McClintock Rinni talk about her Pregnancy, Motherhood, and returning back to sports.
Namita Nayyar:
Being a 9 times world champion in waterskiing what made you decide it was time for planning a baby?
Whitney McClintock Rini
I had the goal of winning the World Overall title in 2019 as a mental marker to give myself permission to retire from jumping (which is the most dangerous event in my sport) so I could have a baby. I had been trying to win another World Overall title since I first won. This was great motivation to give me a date to accomplish my goal by. I had one of the best jump rounds of my life in the finals at the 2019 World Championships in Malaysia and I was able to win the individual ladies overall (the combination of the 3 events in waterskiing) AND lead my team to gold as well!
I knew my last jump was enough, I threw my fist in the air in celebration- and THAT was the last jump of my life! I started trying to get pregnant later that same month. =)
Namita Nayyar:
Many sportswomen find it hard to decide when is the right time? Any tips on how to make a call.
Whitney McClintock Rini
I can see how an entire lifetime in sport can pass without being able to commit to starting a family. For me, I had to give myself a timeline that I felt comfortable with- and then commit to it. Thankfully for me, I was able to accomplish my goal and I felt no urge to go against my decision. Ultimately, every woman must decide what timing is best for her. Honestly, it seems so scary to put your sport on hold and basically induce an injury. But, being a Mom has radically put my sport into perspective for me.
Until the day my son was born, I thought waterskiing was THE most important thing in this life… I was so wrong! In shifting my mindset, I have been able to enjoy traveling with my son, enjoy training, and competing for more than I ever have; and I just had my best professional season in 10 years! Mom power!
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
Was your pregnancy a smooth one? Please share the fitness routine that you followed during the three trimesters? Challenges you faced?
Whitney McClintock Rini
I was fortunate to have a very smooth and enjoyable pregnancy. I found out I was pregnant in December – so I was in my off-season for waterskiing. At the time I was working out at Orange Theory and really enjoying pushing myself to my limits on the rower, treadmill & in the weight room. After finding out I was pregnant I felt it was best to cut way back on the intensity of my workouts in order to keep my heart rate from getting too elevated.
After my first trimester, I decided I had to stop OT altogether because I was too competitive to take it easy! I was able to start waterskiing in January / February. I never had the desire to push myself hard because I knew I wasn’t going to be competing in 2020 anyway. I enjoyed my time on the water and modified my intensity lower and lower as I progressed through my pregnancy. I skied in some form up until about 38 weeks.
My time at the lake slowly morphed into my gym where I practiced Pilates, swimming, and prenatal fitness routines. One thing is for sure, fitness got harder and harder every week! But, I enjoyed every minute of growing my little human and watching my body change so much. My husband told me every day how beautiful I was and I believed him! That made accepting the weight gain so much easier for me.
Namita Nayyar:
When was your baby born? Was it a normal or c-section delivery? How did motherhood change you as a person?
Whitney McClintock Rini
My baby boy was born on August 12, 2020. I was able to have a natural birth after I was induced due to premature rupture of my waters and not going into labor after 24 hours. The birth was the most incredible experience of my life! If you are interested, I was able to share my birth story on the BIRTH STORY PODCAST with Heidi Snyderburn
I am more tired and full of love than I have ever been. Through the abundant blessing of being a mother, God is growing my faith, my patience, my kindness, my generosity, and everything in between! Zane has given me life perspective and given me the gift of loving others better and more completely. Nothing in my life can compare to being a mother.
Namita Nayyar:
When did you start with a workout after childbirth? Can you please elaborate to help women understand how to go about recovery and return back to the sports they pursue or enjoy after childbirth? 5 best tips for return to sport & life?
Whitney McClintock Rini
I went to the lake to waterski the day I got cleared by my midwife- 6 weeks after delivery. I expected to jump back on my ski and feel somewhat normal. I WAS SO WRONG! I could barely hold on to the rope- I was 15-20 pounds heavier than I had ever been and I was certainly weaker and more exhausted than I had ever been on the water. Even after skiing – very easy skiing – through my whole pregnancy, NOTHING could have prepared me for the return to training and competition.
I signed up for some pro tournaments in October – I wasn’t ready! Then I signed up for full-body movement style workouts at New Dimensions Wellness in Orlando to get stronger and lose the baby weight from December through April (This helped me get my body back and I felt so good doing it). By May when my son was 9 months old, I thought surely I would be ready to compete at my highest level- I wasn’t ready!
It took a full 12 months for me to win my first pro event after giving birth (I won on my baby’s first birthday)– which in hindsight sounds pretty spectacular! It was the most challenging road back to the top of the podium. It was difficult, but it was SO rewarding, and I am stronger mentally now because of it, and I truly enjoyed the climb. This journey gave me so much appreciation for what our bodies go through to have a baby! It also gave me so much appreciation for my sport and how much strength, technical ability, and teamwork it takes to be the best.
My 5 best tips for return to sport & life
- Find help with the baby, if you don’t have someone to watch the baby while you work out; you are not giving yourself the best opportunity.
- Do your Kegels! Or better yet, hire a pelvic floor therapist- this helps your deep core muscles engage which is critical in sport AND helps you enjoy time with your partner much sooner!
- Find a fitness routine you can commit to if it feels good, and you are excited about it then it is right for you, and it will help you move in the direction of your dreams!
- Practice gratitude. Your baby is the biggest blessing you have ever received. He also takes more of your time and energy than anything ever has. Remember to cherish the sweet moments with him; hold him while he sleeps if it feels right; let someone help if it feels right; enjoy your partner; accept a meal from a friend but mostly be thankful for all the wonderful things in your life.
- Go do something every day. It is so easy to get stuck at home. Your baby loves adventure as much as you do. Take him on a walk. Take him to your practice. Take him grocery shopping. Take him out for dinner with you. Take him to grandma’s house. Tell your little one it’s time for an adventure and GO! He will be so happy to be with you, learning how to be a human!
Namita Nayyar:
How do you like to kick start your day with Zane around?
Whitney McClintock Rini
This summer when I was training, we would start our day at 630 AM- Zane starts his day with mommy milk every day- then we would pack up breakfast and lunch and head to the lake. He loves hanging out with his sisters (Paige 21, and Megan 19) at the lake, playing in the water, riding in the boat with his dad (Matt Rini), and enjoying the summer! Time at the lake is the best way to start any day, and it gave me the ability to train while Zane had lots of stimulation.
Namita Nayyar:
It can get stressful at times multi-tasking as a sportsperson, mom, entrepreneur. How do you go about balancing your life?
Whitney McClintock Rini
YES, it has been stressful at times. Multi-tasking is NOT a strength of mine. Perfectionism is one of my struggles as well. So, feeling like I was not doing a good job at skiing, motherhood, Real Estate, or keeping my home at any time has been very frustrating to me.
The most important lessons I learned this summer were:
1) compartmentalizing my life works for me, and
2) underachieving was totally okay!
I am really good at doing one thing at a time- being a mom- I felt like I was excellent as long as there weren’t other things distracting me; like that mountain of laundry making me feel guilty about being a bad housewife; skiing- it is important to me to have someone watching Zane so I can focus on my warmup & training; real estate- I am learning to limit my searches to naptime and showing on weekends that I am off from skiing; keeping the house- I have to be okay with grocery shopping OR cleaning the house on my day off, not both!
By being mindful that keeping Zane happy & healthy is my priority, and trusting that God will provide and take care of all the details, I am able to give myself grace for the things I can’t do and be more grateful for the tasks that I can do!
Namita Nayyar:
Message for all females on motherhood, pregnancy, and achievements?
Whitney McClintock Rini
Pregnancy is the most miraculous, terrifying, and beautiful experience in life. Motherhood is the most exhausting, rewarding, heart exploding, and overwhelming lovely gift I could have ever been given. No achievement could ever compare to the feeling of pride and joy I feel when I think about Zane. Which, in some crazy way, has made winning easier and so much less stressful!
Mommas really are superheroes! We can grow a human inside of our bellies; then supply every ounce of nutrition for their rapid growth for 6+ months; then we chase them around believing that we are teaching them how to be good people for the next 18 years – but the reality is, he has been teaching me how to be a better person!
Live Your Dreams,
Follow Whitney McClintock Rini on:
- http://www.whitneymcclintock.com
- https://www.facebook.com/WhitMcC/
- https://twitter.com/whitmcclintock
- https://www.instagram.com/whitmcclintock/
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness