Despite their different sporting paths – one is a soon-to-be three-time Olympic kayaker and the other a long jumper selected for her fourth Paralympics – Alyce Wood and Vanessa Low’s lives outside of sport are incredibly similar, with both becoming mums after the Tokyo Games.

They are also in red-hot form ahead of Paris. Wood claimed gold at the Canoe Sprint World Cup just weeks ago, while Low came close to her own world record while winning gold at the World Para-Athletics Championships last weekend.

Both Wood and Low credit becoming mums for their pre-Paris boost.

While chatting with Low during Episode 2 of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Win Well Podcast, Wood said: “Suddenly I'm in my career best form and that is 100 per cent down to being a mum.”

Low also highlighted what a boost it was having her young son travel with her to overseas competitions.

“It puts a little bit more of that humanness back into high performance sport,” Low said.

“When we were on a trip last year with the team and Mateo. It really enhanced the environment, and it made people miss home just a little bit less. And for me as well, it was a really nice distraction to the pressures and all the negative aspects that come with our sport and really put the focus back on being the human first and the athlete second.”

The AIS Win Well Podcast series highlights how Australia’s Olympians and Paralympians are winning well both in sport and in life.

From winning with integrity, finding a sense of belonging and connection in sport, overcoming failure and adversity, the joy of achieving the incredible, and what it means to be an inspiration to Australians, The Win Well Podcast is a unique opportunity to really get to know the athletes who proudly wear the green and gold on the world stage.

Hosted by two-time Olympian Melissa Breen, The Win Well Podcast is produced by the AIS, one of the 51 organisation who has made the Win Well Pledge through Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.

Episode 1 featured Wheelchair Rugby legends Chris Bond and Ryley Batt, as the pair talked about the legacy they want to leave for future generations.

The AIS Win Well Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts.