Chilean fencer Analia Fernandez, like many female athletes, was not planning to become a mother, but the Covid-19 pandemic has opened a window for her to consider the possibility. Fernandez, 25, is training for the upcoming Pan American Games in Santiago 2023, which begin on October 20. Veteran Chilean gymnast Makarena Pinto, who dreams of reaching the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024, feels "proud to have shown" that a woman can achieve her goals while being a mother. Motherhood is still perceived as a "risk" for high performance, and many female athletes prefer to give up or wait until they finish their sports careers before taking this path. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES