Gorry: West Ham United are paving the way in highlighting Motherhood in football
In Katrina Gorry’s opinion, West Ham United is ‘paving the way’ with its efforts to bring attention to parenthood and the obstacles female athletes face when deciding whether or not to have children.
After relocating to east London from Sweden with her fiancée Clara and two-year-old daughter Harper, who has already become a celebrity in her own right, the Australian international signed a contract with the Hammers in January 2024.
In fact, Gorry has also had an outstanding debut in England, playing a key role in Rehanne Skinner’s team’s victories over Arsenal and Bristol City as well as their most recent draw with Manchester United in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
Away from the field, on Friday, March 8, International Women’s Day, West Ham United unveiled their own documentary, Ómarsson, which chronicles Dagný Brynjarsdóttir’s experience becoming pregnant while a professional athlete.
In addition to making a brief appearance in the documentary, Gorry met with the media for the first time at Curzon Bloomsbury in central London before viewing it with her teammates.
She told West Ham TV, “I think this documentary is important and is going to impact a lot of people,” prior to seeing Ómarsson at the private premiere.
“I think it’s really special to be here to celebrate what Dags [Dagný Brynjarsdóttir] has done as a team and as a Club.”
“To bring a little human into her life and to compete at the top level is just incredible. To see Dags do it once was brilliant, but to see her do it twice is going to be absolutely incredible.” “To think that women are absolute warriors, regardless of motherhood, and that we always seem to come out on top,” the woman said. “I’m really glad that we as a Club can be there for her to help her along and to share the tough times and good times with her.”
Gorry went on, “I think women have demonstrated in the last few years that they can recover or even recover better from having children.” “It gives you an additional incentive to play, and I believe the Club’s backing makes it a lot simpler. I believe that knowing that you and your family are supported helps you play football at a higher level.
“It’s great to see that Clubs are evolving because I had long believed that in order to establish a family, I would have to hang up my boots. With regard to how they’ve treated Dagný and me, I believe West Ham is leading the way.
Gorry went on, “I think women have demonstrated in the last few years that they can recover or even recover better from having children.” “It gives you an additional incentive to play, and I believe the Club’s backing makes it a lot simpler. I believe that knowing that you and your family are supported helps you play football at a higher level.
“It’s great to see that Clubs are evolving because I had long believed that in order to establish a family, I would have to hang up my boots. With regard to how they’ve treated Dagný and me, I believe West Ham is leading the way.
“It’s really special what West Ham have created here and I think you will see more Clubs following suit and you’re going to see longer careers and better players for it.”
After appearing in the midfielder’s announcement video, Harper has been supporting her mother at home games.
Harper surprised her mother in the tunnel to be a very special mascot at the team’s most recent game against Manchester United by entering Chigwell Construction Stadium on top of her shoulders and blowing kisses to the supporters!
Harper always has a smile on her face and is excited to dance, be around the team, and be around the girls. “To share those sort of memories that is super special, and, you know, to sit on the couch with her in 10 years time to show her all the places we went the journey that we went on, the Clubs that we was at, and the people we got to be with, I think is going to be pretty amazing,” Gorry said. “Nothing can replicate it [moments like that], nothing can beat it.”
