Elka Whalan

Elka Whalan (nee Graham) spent the best part of a decade at the top of Australian swimming. A dual Olympian, she won Olympic silver in the 4 x 200m Freestyle relay in Sydney and has 10 Australian and numerous Commonwealth records under her belt.

Since announcing her retirement after the 2006 Commonwealth Games Elka has forged a successful media career including a turn on Seven’s perennially popular Dancing With the Stars and is in demand on the public speaking circuit.

In 2008 she married a fellow Olympian, water polo player Thomas Whalan and the two have been living in Spain where Thomas competes in the European league. Elka and Thomas are now preparing to move back to Australia for the birth of their first child in June. We spoke to Elka about how she has managed to stay fit and healthy throughout her pregnancy – including a terrible bout of morning sickness. - Amber Robinson

Congratulations on the pregnancy! Was it planned or a lovely surprise?

Thomas and I never really believed in the whole “planning” to have a baby. We figured that God would provide and we both knew we wanted time together as husband and wife and to travel as much as we could. As it turned out we celebrated our first anniversary in September 2009 and we were both so happy with such a beautiful first year of marriage we said, ‘Hey want to have a baby?’

And just like that the next month we were pregnant, so you could say it was partly planned and a surprise, we never would of thought that we would fall on the first go. Although we both did say how special and amazing it would be for my 28th birthday to take a test and it be positive, and as it turned out, it’s exactly what happened!

How has pregnancy been treating you? You’ve had to overcome health problems during your swimming career, have you had any issues with your pregnancy?

I love being pregnant. Like so many other beautiful pregnant women out there, I had a very interesting first trimester. I was quite sick, actually really sick, I remember my record for throwing up one day was seven times and it was tough. Thomas was amazing helping by holding my hair back and also seeing the doctor as to what fluids I could take or oral supplements as I really went off food as whatever I seemed to eat it came back up. The nausea sure hits you. It’s all worth it, everytime I was sick I felt happy knowing that this is how it’s supposed to be and that baby Whalan is letting me know it’s inside growing!

Suddenly at week 13 I just stopped being sick and since then it’s been a dream. I cannot emphasise enough how much I just adore being pregnant.

I’m craving apples, cheese, bread, water, salads and my weakness – Coco Pops. Everyday Thomas has made me a freshly squeezed orange juice, I can’t seem to get enough of oranges at the moment!

It’s been a few years since you’ve competed internationally. Are diet and fitness still important to you?

Absolutely, I love exercise. If there is anything I am addicted to its exercise (and my husband). Every day I’m power walking, every second day going to the gym for an hour and three times a week swimming. It’s such a great routine to put your baby into, also it releases endorphins  – a chemical that makes you happy and is so healthy for you.

I have never liked the word diet, I basically eat everything in moderation, low carb, high protein, and I know my body. I know what makes me gain weight, I know how to take it off. I love fresh salads, chicken wraps, egg white omelettes and of course like most people chocolate! Crazy but true my favourite drink is water, I drink litres of it everyday and have always. Your body is 80% made up of it!

You’ve been living in Barcelona which sounds divine. Do you plan to return to Europe after the baby is born?

At this stage we plan to finally return back to Australia, however we love travelling and having Baby Whalan enter our lives won’t stop us jumping on planes. We already have a little holiday planned after the birth in Australia, and then weddings in New York and Florence later in the year so let’s hope we get to them.

Do you know the gender or are you keeping it a secret?

We will have a huge surprise when we go into labour we don’t want to know the sex, we love surprises so have bought a few neutral colour clothes for the little bundle of joy.

Any thoughts on names yet? Maybe something Spanish or perhaps Italian after your time in Europe?

We have been throwing around a whole lot of different names, we like unique, and since Elka is different, Thomas is keen on something special. Also since we are not sure of the sex it leaves it open to lots of names and knowing us the night before we will come up with something. We are so relaxed about this all.

It sounds like you had an idyllic childhood on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, where the beach and swimming feature prominently. Is that the kind of childhood you want to re-create for your own children?

We want our children to grow up wherever we are ,wherever their lives and paths take them. Definitely near the water and water safety is so important for any parents with children. Body surfing, surf awareness, blowing bubbles, we can’t wait to get back to basics with our children.

With both you and Thomas involved in water sports, are you predicting a water baby? Perhaps a water birth? Or swimming lessons from a young age?

We would love a water baby, but whatever it wants to be it will be. All babies are born with a gift, ours may be in an orchestra or as an artist, you just never know. We figure though with our water history this will transcend into its genes and its sure to be a natural swimmer. It may mean the early mornings starts will never stop for us ha!

We won’t be going as far to have a water birth, although a spa as I head into labour to ease the contractions may be in the equation.

Aside from being pregnant, what other projects are you involved in right now?

Everyday is different with my work so its wonderful and keeps me mentally stimulated. I spend my time between Spain and Australia have sponsors that include Swisse vitamins, Park Hyatt, Vodafone, Audi and I sit on two boards. Shooting ads, TV work, radio commercials and speaking engagements are all part of the work I am involved in. I am huge supporter of charities and love being involved whenever I can.

To lead a healthy life is such a treasure and to see what people in life have to endure it always keeps you grounded when you work and are involved with foundations that offer to make the lives of other better.

The next few months will see me doing a lot of pregnancy work which I am so excited about. I dreamed of being a young mum at 28 and always thought that one day I would be pregnant, so this journey is just a blessing.

Catch up with all of Elka’s latest news at www.elkawhalan.com.