Ashleigh Gentle heads into tomorrow’s T100 Grand Final in Qatar carrying far more than just the usual pre-race tension. The Australian star has revealed that she recently suffered a miscarriage at seven weeks, sharing openly about the emotional toll it has taken and her uncertainty about how she will perform on race day.
“It’s not something I’d ever wish on anyone”, Gentle wrote as she announced the loss. “I have no idea whether I can be competitive on Friday – I wanted to be honest here – and I hope no one feels let down by this.”
Gentle explained that she could easily have chosen to stay silent or pretend everything was fine. But the truth, she says, is that the past weeks have been exhausting and life doesn’t always follow the path you hope for. “There should be absolutely no shame in experiencing a miscarriage- so many women go through it, yet it can feel incredibly isolating.”
Despite the heartbreak, Gentle remains grateful for her career and the opportunities this sport has given her. There is still so much she wants to accomplish – both as an athlete and, someday, as a mother. “I also hope that one day I’ll have the privilege of becoming a Mum,” she said.