Being a mother helps Zelinka win at Canadian Olympic track trials and improves her medal chances at London Games

CALGARY - Becoming a mother brought balance into Jessica Zelinka's life. It also might make the difference in her winning a medal in the heptathlon at this summer's Olympic Games in London.

There was a mother and daughter reunion a few moments after Zelinka broke her own Canadian record while winning the gruelling two-day, seven-event heptathlon at the Canadian Track and Field Trials Thursday night. Three-year-old Anika wrapped her arms around Zelinka's neck and proudly waved a flag. Husband Nathaniel Miller watched with a smile.

There once was a time when Zelinka's life revolved around the track. She needed to run faster, jump further. She wanted to do it alone, be her own boss, prove to the world she was a champion.

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That fire still burns hot in the 30-year-old from London, Ont. But having that hug at the end of the race, seeing those smiling eyes, makes Zelinka understand why she races. It also allows her to accept the help she needs to be successful.

"I started track when I was young,'' said Zelinka after posting a score of 6599 points, the third best in the world this year. "I always relied on my own personal goals. Getting personal bests was always my No. 1 inspiration and motivation.

"Now I get to share it with so many more people. As a parent, the thing that has changed the most (is) I am open to accepting more support. They say when you are a first-time parent the best thing you can do is put your pride aside and accept people who are willing to help you.''

Being a parent made Zelinka understand it was all right to let other people help her. It took a lot of family support for Zelinka to continue training, travelling and competing while still managing to be a good mother.

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"Our family has been really supportive,'' said Miller, a member of the Canadian water polo team that competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "That's allowed her to really focus on being at her best.

"She's done a really good job of separating the two. Coming home and being a mother and focusing on being the best mom she can be. When she's at work she is focused at work.''

Les Gramantik, Zelinka's long-time coach, has seen the difference.

"She is a lot less confrontational,'' he said. "We've had 10 years together. There have been some tough times.

"There are so many things she does better. The ability to sustain effort is great, the ability to focus and respond to challenges is better. She's simply tougher.''

Zelinka isn't the only mother attending the Olympic trails. Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, a bronze medallist in the 100-metre hurdles in Beijing, gave birth to a daughter about nine months ago.

Zelinka finished fifth in Beijing. Her score of 6490 set the old Canadian record.

Gramantik admits he "almost fell off my chair'' when Zelinka first told him she was pregnant. Now he thinks it might have been the best thing for Zelinka.

"She competed very well in Beijing,'' said Gramantik, who celebrated Zelinka's record with a cup of cold beer. "It could have been difficult to sustain four years of intensive training. You need to find a way to take time off. Becoming pregnant is a good time to take off.

"We may not actually be where we are right now (without the pregnancy.) A lot of people said there is no way she is going to come back. She wanted to prove others wrong.''