DERVAL’S BABY JOY

SHEER DELIGHT: Derval O’Rourke has told of her joy at being pregnant. The three-time Olympic hurdler revealed her baby news is particularly welcome, as it comes after she had a miscarriage earlier this year. Corkwoman Derval, who retired from athletics in 2014, is already mother to Dafne (3), her daughter with husband, sailor Peter O’Leary. “I’m pregnant and due in March — which is great. I had a miscarriage back in May and I found it really difficult. It feels disingenuous to this pregnancy not to mention that, which might seem strange, but that’s how it is. I have found it hard for it not to be the narrative and I think that’s probably normal when you’ve been through this. I was worried, but now I feel good, after being with the doctor at 18 weeks.” Derval, who is a team mentor on ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’ commended show host Kathryn Thomas for highlighting the issue: “I found it really impactful. Not a lot of people talk about it, though it affects a high percentage of women.” Photo: Steve Humphreys