Atletas olímpicas brasileiras e a maternidade: do mito à realidade

Throughout history, women have been prohibited from practicing competitive activities in different contexts and times, either because of the social space they could occupy, or arguments related to their biology and body constitution. The woman's body, mainly related to her fertility aspects, regulated to determinants of her social possibilities. Under the mythical bias, the distinct sacred female figures were those who gave the gift of life, the creation of things, often without needing any male figure, putting the issues of motherhood in focus. At a certain time, the practice of physical activity could favor women in what would, or still is, said as their natural function, but always in masculine determinations. Although with the different changes over time, Brazilian Olympic women athletes had occupied these spaces and roles, carrying them with all their burdens, responsibilities and blame, both in the desire or concretization of motherhood, as well as in the express will of not fulfill this imposed role. That said, using biographical narratives, this article aims to discuss the issues of motherhood that involve sport and, especially, Brazilian Olympic athletes.