Mum on the run
Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis on keeping fit as a parent of four and her new activewear range
AS an Olympian, Denise Lewis’s entire life revolved around being in peak condition. She had to excel at the seven events of the heptathlon, in which she won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. These days, as a busy mum of four, keeping fit is second on Denise’s list of priorities – but she’s learned to improvise. She has swapped the track for the “gym of life”, which ranges from 20 minutes of Zumba to lunging down to pick up toys. Denise, 48, said: “I’m not sure how I juggle being a mum of four kids.
“You’ve just got to have a positive mindset and be really clear with what you want to get out of the day but know that you can’t fit everything in.”
Denise has daughter Lauryn, 19, with Belgian 200m sprinter Patrick Stevens. In 2006, she married Steve Finan O’Connor, former manager of the UK pop group All Saints and son of comedian Tom O’Connor.
The couple have three children, Ryan, 14, Kane, 11 and Troy – who was born in December 2018. The BBC athletics pundit, who reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, has just designed her own sportswear range for Next – the Denise Lewis Edit.
She said: “What I love about activewear is that it’s easy. I can go to the gym, I can pick up the kids from school. It’s comfortable and I feel good in it.”
The range includes leggings, hoodies, joggers, sports bras, breathable tops and technical running trainers.
Denise said: “From squat-proof leggings (which don’t fall down) to sports bras – there’s something for every shape and size.” next.co.uk/women/deniselewis-next-active