As Kaleo Kanahele Maclay settled into her Tokyo hotel room, readying herself for the impending 2020 Paralympic Games, she took a moment to perform a life-altering action. Tightly gripping a pregnancy test in her hand, the possibility of a second child began to color her future. She and her husband had paused their dreams of expanding their family due to the delayed Paralympics, but now those dreams could potentially turn into reality.
Ignoring the mounting nervous energy within her, Maclay recollects, "I had this gut feeling, so, with a couple of pregnancy tests packed in my bag, I decided to see what would unfold in Tokyo. I took the test before breakfast on a day filled with anticipation, and before my schedule ramped up with practice sessions, I discovered that I was pregnant."
The joy and shock of a positive pregnancy test flooded Maclay just before she was set to represent Team USA in sitting volleyball. Prior to this exhilarating news, she had faced the despair of an ectopic pregnancy, making her question her ability to conceive again. With the news shared with her husband via a quick video call, she shared the thrill with her teammates before training took center stage again.
Once the initial shock was digested, the Team USA medical team whisked her off for an ultrasound. All systems were go for Maclay, and the challenge looming on the horizon was balancing the early days of pregnancy with the world’s gaze focused on her during the Games.
"It was an overwhelming feeling of gratitude that filled me," Maclay recalls. "Gratitude for the life growing within me, and a sense of relief that I could share this joyous journey with Kai, my son." However, this joy soon meshed with the physical turmoil of early pregnancy. Morning sickness hit Maclay just as the finals loomed near, but she persevered and soldiered through the bouts of nausea.
Representing the sitting volleyball team, which achieved gold in the 2020 Paralympic Games, Maclay's presence was instrumental in taking down the formidable China team.
Maclay was born with a clubbed left foot and, undeterred by this challenge, has been a stalwart in the realm of sitting volleyball since 2010. She has proudly represented Team USA in no less than three Paralympic Games.
Now, Maclay is gearing up for her next adventure. Her journey to Paris includes a larger cheer squad, with her two sons, Duke and Kai, at the helm. Her family: mother, sister, and husband, will also join her in Paris, providing her with an unshakeable support system.
"My family is also making the journey to Paris with me," Maclay shares. "Duke will be there from the start, while Kai will join us a bit later – all making it in time for the games. It’s going to be an exciting ride."
Initially, when Maclay became pregnant with Duke, she questioned her future in sports. Deciphering what motherhood would look like for an athlete was a challenging process. There was an internal pressure stemming from societal norms which dictated that her pre-pregnancy body should make a return post-delivery, a mindset Maclay has since challenged.
What mattered to her was acknowledging that her body was continually evolving, and that these changes were symbols of her resilience and beauty. Motherhood has given her more strength and power than she could have ever imagined.
Moreover, Maclay believes that she owes a lot of her parenting skills to her years in volleyball. The game has taught her the importance of open, transparent communication in different aspects of her life, especially with her children. She doesn’t shy away from showing her children her vulnerable side either.
Maclay states, "My teammates and coaches have seen me at my best and my worst, and so have my children. They've seen me cry, they've seen the stress on my face. They see the unseen side of being an athlete, and I believe that openness breeds understanding and empathy."
It’s this mindset that Maclay carries into this year’s games, not just to stand as a testament of what pregnant mothers are capable of achieving, but also to show her sons the resilience and strength of women, pregnant or otherwise.