Time to take a brief break from the on-course action right now to rejoice in the great news that Jess Learmonth has announced the arrival of her first child.

The British star, Olympic mixed relay gold medallist at Tokyo in 2021, revealed on her Instagram page that baby Freddie was born early on Sunday September 10. You can click here to see the gorgeous pictures of the new arrival.

Learmonth on baby joy

The 35-year-old star revealed: “Frederick Harry Wilson joined the party, early Sunday morning on 10th September.

“Freddie wasn’t messing around and absolutely sped into the world. We are both besotted with him.”

Jess had announced her pregnancy back in April and signed off her post with the message ‘the triathlon journey continues’ along with a French flag. That of course was a tantalising reference to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Paris 2024 still on agenda for Jess

Olympic medallists returning to the sport after starting a family has been a welcome theme in 2023 – American duo Katie Zaferes (third in Tokyo and second in the Mixed Team Relay) and Gwen Jorgensen (winner in Rio in 2016) are both back in the game and bidding for spots in Paris next summer.

And World Triathlon announced a new maternity policy from the start of 2023 which sees them freeze the rankings of athletes in terms of competition entries from the moment they announce their pregnancy until the child is two years old.

We wish Jess and her partner Jon the heartiest of congratulations on their new arrival!