Amit Elor, an Olympic wrestling champion, is not letting pregnancy slow her down. The 22-year-old gold medalist has maintained an active training schedule throughout her pregnancy and is already planning her return to the mat just six weeks after giving birth.
In a recent Q&A with fans, Elor revealed her timeline for getting back to competition.
“It all depends how I’m feeling but planning to slowly start wrestling again 6 weeks postpartum. Depending on how that goes, I am super excited to eventually compete again.”
The young champion’s dedication to staying active during pregnancy has surprised even herself. In a conversation with Alberto Crane, Elor discussed how she has adapted her training as her body has changed over the past several months.
“I thought there was a chance that I’d be swollen by now, sitting all day. And so I’m really grateful that I’m feeling this good and that, of course, the baby is doing amazing, healthy, and that it’s low risk and that I’m just capable of continuing to train.”
Elor emphasized the importance of listening to her body throughout the process.
“I’m just listening to my body. It’s been going through a lot of changes the past few months, but I am surprised, you know, just how amazing women’s bodies are and what we’re capable of.”
The Olympic champion has gained approximately 35 lbs (16 kg) during her pregnancy and has been managing various physical challenges along the way. Early in her pregnancy, she experienced persistent hunger and nausea that could only be relieved by eating, which lasted until about 14 weeks. She also dealt with low iron levels until her third trimester, which left her feeling lightheaded and short of breath during workouts.
Remarkably, Elor competed at World Team Trials for wrestling when she was approximately five weeks pregnant. Once she reached her second trimester, she adjusted her approach to focus on drilling and grappling sparring with trusted partners in both wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Throughout her pregnancy, Elor has continued practicing flow rolling, a gentler form of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sparring, alongside her husband Mica Galvao. For the champion athlete, staying on the mat provides benefits beyond just physical fitness.
“This is fun for me. This is my passion. To be able to continue on the mat in a safe way feels healthy. It feels good for both me and my baby. So I’m just taking it day by day and having fun.”
Elor holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, having trained in the discipline on and off since age 12. She expressed a preference for training with the gi, the traditional uniform worn in Jiu-Jitsu and Judo.
“I like how you can do so much more technically with the gi versus no gi. I feel like it’s a little bit more limiting. I just love all the different things with the lapel and all the submissions you can do using the gi. You can’t do that with no gi.”
When asked about her motivation to continue training through pregnancy and other challenges, Elor shared her philosophy.
“Training and exercise keep me sane. When I feel frustrated, I remind myself that doing something is better than nothing. That whatever I’m going through, it’s only a moment in time and I’ll make it through. That big things are achieved through consistency, slow progress, and never giving up.”
Elor remained remarkably active. Just four days before her expected delivery date, she was spotted at Black House MMA working on pads, and she continued running on a treadmill in the following days.
Her advice for women considering entering combat sports reflects the same determination that earned her Olympic gold.
“The sky is the limit. Don’t let anybody tell you what you can or can’t do. You are so much stronger than you think. Don’t be afraid to try something. Don’t be afraid to fail, and just have fun with it.”
