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'I don't follow anyone's timeline': Singaporean 2-time Olympian Saiyidah Aisyah welcomes first child at 38

Singaporean rower and two-time Olympian Saiyidah Aisyah Rafaee has welcomed her first child in Boston, marking a new chapter in her life at 38.Aisyah gave birth to her son, Asher Sahil Zuckerman, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital on August 29, Berita Harian (BH) reported on Friday (Sept 25).The Olympian said she approached childbirth with the same resilience and discipline she...

AsiaOne Singapore2026-09-26 10:30查看原文 ↗

Singaporean rower and two-time Olympian Saiyidah Aisyah Rafaee has welcomed her first child in Boston, marking a new chapter in her life at 38.

Aisyah gave birth to her son, Asher Sahil Zuckerman, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital on August 29, Berita Harian (BH) reported on Friday (Sept 25).

The Olympian said she approached childbirth with the same resilience and discipline she used in preparing for major races.

She told BH that she prepared by learning what to expect, writing down her fears, practising breathing techniques and finding different ways to manage pain.

"Just like a race, much of the hard work happens before the big day arrives," she said.

Aisyah moved to Boston in 2019 and married American Ross Zuckerman later that year.

Aisyah, who is the first Singaporean rower to qualify for the Olympics, competed at the Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 Olympics . She said her experience as an athlete has also helped her with navigating the early challenges of motherhood thus far.

Now a coach and sports performance specialist, she helps athletes with rowing, running, strength and conditioning, as well as prenatal and postpartum training.

'I don't have to give up being an athlete'

"Stepping into motherhood is challenging," Aisyah told BH, adding that she had learnt as an athlete to "lean into" challenges.

She said the support of her family and community in Boston has also helped her adjust to life as a new mother.

Her mother flew from Singapore to be with her during the first week after she gave birth, followed by her in-laws, reported BH.

Aisyah said she was also excited to share Malay culture and traditions with her son through food, festive celebrations and the Singaporean Malay community in Boston.

Despite becoming a mother, she said she has no plans to give up her identity as an athlete and rower.

"Taking on a new identity as a mother does not mean I have to give up my identity as an athlete or rower. I just need to learn to adapt," she told BH, noting that training sessions may be shorter and she may not be able to travel as frequently for training and competitions.

Aisyah also encouraged young Singaporean women not to feel constrained by other people's timelines, saying there is no expiry date for life's major milestones.

"I became an Olympic athlete at 28, returned to the Olympics at 36, and became a mother at 38."

AsiaOne has reached out to Aisyah for more information.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aisyah Rafaee, OLY (@ariesyah)

A post shared by Aisyah Rafaee, OLY (@ariesyah)

helmy.saat@asiaone.com

新加坡赛艇运动员、两届奥运会选手赛义达·艾莎·拉法伊在波士顿迎来了她的第一个孩子，这标志着她38岁时人生的新篇章。

据《每日新闻报》（Berita Harian，简称BH）周五（9月25日）报道，艾莎于8月29日在布里格姆妇女医院生下了儿子阿舍尔·萨希尔·祖克曼。

这位奥运选手表示，她以备战重大比赛时同样的韧性和自律精神来面对分娩。

她告诉BH，她通过了解会发生什么、写下自己的恐惧、练习呼吸技巧以及寻找不同的方法来控制疼痛来做好准备。

“就像比赛一样，大部分艰苦的工作都在比赛日到来之前完成，”她说。

艾莎于 2019 年搬到波士顿，同年晚些时候与美国人罗斯·祖克曼结婚。

艾莎是首位获得奥运会参赛资格的新加坡赛艇运动员，她曾参加过2016年里约奥运会和2024年巴黎奥运会。她说，作为运动员的经历也帮助她应对了迄今为止初为人母所面临的挑战。