Athlete and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Natasha Hastings, opens up about her struggle to be happy after finding out she was pregnant.
In the midst of training for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Hastings and her fiancé, former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, William Gay, were 'surprised' to find out they were expecting to say the least. Hastings tells PEOPLE that she knew her fiancé was ecstatic at the positive results but he held back his excitement knowing that her entire career and future was flashing before her eyes.
"We took the test together, me and my fiancé," she says, "And I could see on his face the excitement, but he was also holding back because he could see- I hate using the word disappointment because I'm elated to meet this person- but in the beginning it was a struggle."
After seeing the positive pregnancy test results, Hastings had a hard time accepting the fact that she was going to need to pass on the 2020 Summer Olympics. Now nearing the end of her pregnancy, Hastings realizes that she's capable of doing both- being a mom and competing- and is determined to make it happen.
With doctors giving her the okay to train during pregnancy, Hastings has remained in impeccable shape while her bump grows and plans to be ready for the games next summer. Her sponsor, Under Armour, has been supportive of her pregnancy, which has helped Hastings remain positive of her upcoming challenges.
"I'm just focused on being the best mom that I can be and then being the best Natasha that I can be, and however that plays out for me, I'll be accepting of that," she tells interviewers. "But the biggest thing for me is that I do this for me."
The athlete also touched on the topic of how hard it is for women to have to decide between having a family and having a career; a decision that shouldn't be so hard to make these days. It was because of being so torn on what to do that made it so difficult for Hastings to be happy at first because being an athlete is a big part of who she is.
With her due date, September 2nd, fast approaching, both Hastings and Gay say they aren't interested in finding out the sex of their baby until he or she is born. They also explain that they don't expect their baby to be athletic like them but if it happens, it happens.
Hastings says that all she wants for this baby, and any of her future children, to just be happy being themselves, athletic or not.