Raising an Olympian: Jeanette Kwayke

When British runner Jeanette Kwayke's mum insisted she have something to fall back on, it wasn't appreciated by her daughter. But she did as she was told, and now they're best friends

Despite her daughter's talent, sensible mum Rose Kwayke was keen she finish her education before she took on running full time.

“I wasn't really keen on her running at the beginning because I advised her all the time that she needed something to fall back on. I told her to go to secondary school, go to uni, get her degree and then she could do what she wants,” remembers Rose.

It was hard at the time, but Jeanette persevered with both her education and her training.

“She was a bit upset because she thought that I didn't want her to do what she wanted to do but when she finished… she said 'I've done what you wanted mum, now mum can I do what I want?'”

The pair became firm friends, not just mother and daughter, and it was Rose who helped Jeanette through the aftermath of the serious knee surgery she needed after reaching the 2008 Olympic final in Beijing.

“It's hard to talk about Jeannette's injury. It's the last thing you want as a parent for your child to have to go through this pain. It was very heartbreaking for her and for me.”

Jeanette was out for over two years and her mum was crucial in keeping her enthusiasm for athletics up.

“I had to take two or three months off work just to be with her, there to support her emotionally, to protect her. I couldn't run for her but I could help her to a speedy recovery.

“Now we see each other all the time, we're best friends. We sit down and we talk about life. Talk about what she's going through and training and all kind of stuff.

“It's not mother and daughter anymore, it's pure friendship.”

By Kim Hookem-Smith

Originating at uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com