Australian Olympian Ashleigh Gentle has announced her pregnancy, three months after her heartbreaking miscarriage.
The 35-year-old athlete bravely competed in the T100 triathlon just days after announcing the devastating news in December. She fought back to finish sixth in the season-ending race, and went on to recover from one of the “worst” swims of her life.
She secured fourth place in overall standings and despite the heartbreak, Gentle remained resilient, writing on social media: “Inspired by so many women around me. We are stronger than we know!”
“I really didn’t know how I would perform today and it’s a result that I wouldn’t be satisfied with at the start of the year, but today I’m walking away proud.”
On Thursday night, the two-time Olympian and her fellow triathlete husband, Josh Amberger, announced that they are expecting a child together.
“Baby Burger is cooking,” they shared on social media alongside a photo of the pair holding up a baby onesie.
The couple received messages of support from triathletes around the world, including Aussie star Matt Hauser, who wrote: “Congrats guys!!!” alongside a red heart emoji.
The official T100 Triathlon account also shared their support: “Just incredible news. Congrats both ❤️”
Gentle was open about her previous miscarriage ahead of the triathlon Grand final in Qatar last year.
“It’s not something I’d ever wish on anyone,” she wrote at the time.
“I’ve been overwhelmed with emotions while also trying to celebrate Josh’s final triathlon in Chile. Honestly, I felt a little crazy still getting on my original flight to Doha.
“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.
“I could so easily share a different story and pretend everything has been perfect, but it’s exhausting, and the reality is that life doesn’t always unfold the way we hope.
“There should be absolutely no shame in experiencing a miscarriage — so many women go through it, yet it can feel incredibly isolating.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunities I have in this sport, and there is still so much I want to achieve, I also hope that one day I’ll have the privilege of becoming a Mum.”
Gentle was part of the triathlon team in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 and was a member of the mixed team relay that won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
She also won bronze in the Ironman 70.3 world championships in 2024.
Images: Instagram
