Lorhiz Echavez-Lopez with her family (above) and while competing in the Danao City National Age Group Triathlon (below) in April 2014. contributed and CDN file
Mother’s Day special
They say that nothing beats motherhood. But for someone who has a career in sports, is being a mother a worthy exchange?
“Definitely,” said Lorhiz Echavez-Lopez, one of the decorated swimmers and triathletes that Cebu has ever produced.
“But I’m not saying that I’m not going back into the sport. It’s just that we have to set our priorities in life. My boys make me appreciate the little victories in life like winning at potty training, feeding by themselves, them knowing how to share. Unlike when I was a full-time athlete, where I’d only get my high when I was on the podium,” said Lopez, who, just last month, gave birth to her third son, Connor Lucien Marcell.
Lopez married Mendel Lopez, also a bemedalled runner-turned triathlete, in 2011 and had their first son, Laurent Reece Murciel, a year later. Their second son, Gregor Antoine Mendel, came in 2016 while both continued to be elite members of the Rider Omega Triathlon Team.
Before getting married, Lorhiz was a champion swimmer and triathlete. Aside from topping local triathlon competitions, Lopez also podiums in national and international competitions such as topping the Pinoy category of the Xterra Liloan in 2010 and placing 5th in the 25-29 age group category of the Ironman Taiwan in Kenting Hengchup Township.
Lorhiz admitted that as someone who is doing well in her sporting career, thoughts of regret did cross her mind when she decided to have a family.
“That crossed my mind a couple of times, especially during the first few months after giving birth, I was really depressed with the failure of our breastfeeding relationship with my eldest and I thought that if this were triathlon, I’d have total control of the situation, thus the regrets,” she said. “But when I finally overcame those first few dark months and accepted that I had to breastfeed him in an entirely different way, these thoughts became less and less. Also, I got back into training fairly quick, which helped chase the baby blues away.”
But competing and winning have taken a different meaning now that she is a mother.
“Marling’s (firstborn) report card is more meaningful now than my trophies and medals. Kidding aside, yes, my podium finishes after becoming a mom mean more to me now. It just proves that despite the crazy busy schedule of being a mom, working full time and training, winning can still be done. It takes a lot of grit and a whole lot more of time management but it can be done.”
Fortunately for Lopez, she also has her family to support her as she balances being a working mother and an athlete.
“The technique to this is just remembering the adage ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ So I ask help when I need it and it’s healthy for the kids to have a change in environment from time to time and get to see their grandparents, aunts and uncles, while I race or train,” she said.
With her experience, Lopez realized that being an athlete is way easier than being a mother.
“Though the essentials are the same like dedication, patience, discipline, etc. Being a mom takes it to a whole new level. Like a few notches higher, especially in the patience department.”
Her advice to women in sports who also want to become mothers is simple: “Unlike sports there are no fast and hard rules on becoming a mother, if your apprehensions come from thoughts like ‘will I be a good mom to my kids,’ then no need to worry, coz you will be exactly what your child needs you to be and you will be enough. We don’t need to know everything coz mothering is not perfect science, we learn along the way. Always remember that mothers are not born, they are made.”