Supermums turn science on its head

A SERIES of successes by recent mothers has prompted questions whether childbirth, far from spelling the end of a sporting career, can actually boost an athlete’s performance.

Paula Radcliffe’s sensational New York marathon win this month, after having her first child in January, followed Jana Rawlinson’s return from childbirth to win world 400m hurdles gold in Osaka in August.

Japan also cheered as double Olympic judo champion Ryoko Tani won her seventh under-48kg world crown — and her first as a mum — in September.