Elinor Barker: From the pain of endometriosis to making sporting history

Endometriosis can negatively impact fertility, but Barker’s son Nico, born in 2022, was in Paris to see his mother win two medals.

Barker says having her family in attendance has made her medal successes extra special but she has not considered trying to win medals for her son.

“It’s funny because a lot of people say, ‘I am doing it for my kids’. I am absolutely not doing it for him because he does not know what is going on,” she joked.

“That’s what makes it so special because when you are a mum it is like expected that everything you do is for your kids, but this is something that is purely mine and for the other adults in my life that have supported me, but it’s nice to bring him along for the ride as well.”

Barker says combining cycling with motherhood has been extremely fulfilling.

“It has been the most incredible, difficult but best thing that I have ever done,” she said.

“There is no way I could do it without my husband Casper [von Folsach,] being as incredible and supportive as he is and up for spending as much time being basically a married single dad.

“Our parents have been amazing. We don’t live near them but they are always up for babysitting when we need them to. If they need to come to us or travel around the world to help look after Nico if I am racing and Casper is working, they are there.

“My road team [Uno-X] and British Cycling have been so supportive and open-minded in how things can work and how I can get the most out of my training without spending any unnecessary time away from Nico.

“That is the most important thing in my life and cycling is very much secondary to that.”