Former biathlete Soukalová is expecting her second child and opens up about her fears

Former Czech biathlon star Gabriela Soukalová is expecting her second child with partner Miloš Kadeřábek. The couple already have a daughter, Isabela Gabriela, born in September 2021, and are now preparing to welcome another addition to the family.

On social media, the athlete shared a photo with her partner showing off her baby bump, along with candid thoughts on the anxieties that come with expecting a child.

The fears behind the happy photos

"Instagram is full of beautiful pregnancy photos, growing bellies, anticipation and joy. But I think it's completely natural for fears to creep in alongside that joy too. What will it be like? Will I be able to be a good parent? How much will our lives change?" Soukalová wrote.

She admitted that such doubts have followed her during this second pregnancy as well. "Maybe these questions will come back again with the second baby, just slightly different ones. I've already been asking myself for a while now — will we manage with two kids? How will I divide my time, attention and love between them? What will it all be like?" she continued.

A message to other expecting parents

In her post, the former biathlete reached out to other expecting parents feeling similar emotions. "So if you're expecting your baby and sometimes feel uncertain, I think you're definitely not alone in that. And in my opinion, there are far more expecting parents who feel this way than the cheerful Instagram photos would suggest," she noted.

"I believe these very fears show just how important it is for us to be good parents. And it's that love and determination that can lead us, day by day, to grow together with our children," the athlete added.

Soukalová, who went by the surname Koukalová from 2016 to 2021, retired from professional sport in the spring of 2019 and is considered one of the most successful Czech biathletes in history. From the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, she brought home two silver medals and one bronze, was twice crowned world champion, and won the overall World Cup title in the 2015/16 season. Over her career, she claimed 19 World Cup stage victories.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz