All At Once
All at Once is a podcast dedicated to raising multiples, because life with multiples deserves its own space.
Whether you're a new or expecting parent to twins, triplets or more, a seasoned parent of multiples, or simply curious about life with multiples, All At Once is your place for real talk about raising multiples. Each episode promises to leave you feeling seen, heard and informed.
Join us, Sinead Finn and Gabi Holdinghausen - two mums with five kids between us, including two sets of twins - as we share honest, unfiltered stories and dive into a wide range of topics. From infertility and birthing to the day-to-day reality of raising multiples, we cover it all, the highs, the lows and everything in between.
This is a safe space to laugh, cry and feel understood, all at once.
All At Once
Twins, Motherhood & the Olympic Comeback with Morgan Mitchell
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Becoming a mum changes everything. But what happens when you’re also an elite athlete trying to make your way back to the world stage — with twins at home?
In this episode, we’re joined by two-time Olympian and twin mum Morgan Mitchell for an honest, hilarious and refreshingly real conversation about twin motherhood, returning to elite sport and chasing another Olympic dream.
Morgan takes us from finding out she was pregnant with twin girls Honey and Maya, through a difficult pregnancy, giving birth at 35 weeks and their time in NICU, to recovering from a C-section and beginning the biggest comeback of her career.
We also talk about what it really takes to balance ambition and motherhood — training, travelling, spending time away from her girls, missing milestones and leaning on her husband, family and wider village to make it all possible.
We chat about:
- The reality of a difficult twin pregnancy and NICU time
- Recovering from a C-section and returning to elite sport
- The physical and mental side of her Olympic comeback
- Balancing training, travel and twin motherhood
- The importance of having a strong support system
- Making time for yourself as a mum
- Her road to the LA 2028 Olympic Games
- Letting go of parenting pressure and doing what works for your family
It’s a conversation about motherhood and ambition existing side by side — and finding a way to keep chasing your own dreams while raising two little people.
Keep up with Morgan:
Follow Morgan on Instagram @morganmitch for more on motherhood, athletics and her journey towards LA 2028.
Follow along for the raw, unfiltered reality of raising multiples.
Thanks for being here.
If this resonated, sharing, rating or leaving a comment helps more parents of multiples find us.
Welcome to All at Once, a podcast dedicated to raising multiples because life with multiples deserves its own space. Whether you're expecting twins already deep in the chaos or simply curious about life with multiples, you're in the right place. We're Sneade and Gabby, two mums with five kids between us, including two sets of twins, sharing honest, unfiltered stories about the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
SPEAKER_00This is a safe space to laugh, cry, and feel understood all at once. Let's jump in. Hi Morgan, welcome to all at once. We're so excited for this chat today. For so many women, becoming a mum changes everything. But becoming a mum to twins while navigating elite sport, returning to competition, and spending time away from your babies brings a whole different layer of challenges. We're super excited to get into all of that. But for anyone who might not know you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your athletic journey, and your family?
SPEAKER_03Oh my god, I always find it so daunting having to talk about myself. Um yes, my name is Morgan. Um, I'm a dual Olympian. I am a mother to twin girls, Honey and Maya. And to be honest, I just feel like that's I don't know, it's such a special group to be part of, you know, the twin community. And I found that as time goes on. And yeah, I'm married to my hot, sexy husband that I'm obsessed with, Tom. You're gonna hear a lot about him this podcast. But yeah, no, just getting back into the groove of things, really.
SPEAKER_02I love how casually you say all of that, because you've been to the Olympics twice.
SPEAKER_03I feel like Tokyo doesn't count because of COVID. So it's like, oh, I went to two, but one wasn't, you know, it didn't shape up to be what I thought it would be, obviously. So I feel it's definitely counted.
SPEAKER_02So you're doing all that training and hard work, I can only imagine. Well, we'll we'll definitely want to get into how you've balanced being a twin mum and your incredible career. But before we get into all of that, let's go right back to the beginning. Can you talk us through your journey to falling pregnant with the twins?
SPEAKER_03Oh my gosh. You're gonna learn so much about me. And I feel like this is the first time I've actually spoken about this ever.
SPEAKER_02No way.
SPEAKER_03Um, obviously my friends know yet. Because I said to Tom, I just it wasn't ever something, it went, it happened so quick. I remember I got home from filming Survivor, and I hadn't seen Tom for about six to eight weeks. No contact at all. And again, I told you I'm obsessed with this, man. I remember getting home and I'm like, whatever happens, happens. We had a little date night out on the Mornington Peninsula, um, and we'd been talking about kids, but it wasn't like the number one thing on our radar. We wanted a few more holidays, you know. We had only been together for seven months at that point. And I honestly thought it would take months because you do hear of those stories, like it can take women quite some time. And I was pushing, well, I think I was turning 30 that year, and lo and behold, two days into getting home, we conceived. And I'll never, I'm sure you girls know what it's like when you go for that for that first scan. Yeah, our first ultrasound. I remember thinking, oh, a bestie we can take to Europe. I'm so excited. And the lady, because I was so early, but it was quite obvious that I was pregnant, you know, I was overheating, eating the craziest, weirdest concoctions of foods and drinks. And she was like, Okay, I have some news. And I was like, oh my gosh, she's just gonna tell me I've got like an ulcer because I've been eating like an absolute pig, like something's wrong. And she's like, Here's a baby in a heartbeat, and you know that feeling it's okay, the baby's safe and cool, we can move on. And then she moves the ultrasound, I'll never forget that. Yeah, and she was like, and here's another baby in a heartbeat. I remember I remember grabbing Tom and clawing him with my nails, and I was like, What have you done? I just wasn't prepared. Like, I can't even take care of myself, and so I he wanted to keep it a secret, but I because it was me obviously dealing with it and going through it, I just couldn't. I rang before my mum and my family, my two best friends, Nana and Celeste. I was like, Oh wait, I'm having twins. And that was as soon as we stepped out of the ultrasound, and it was just like just telling people was so exciting because we both didn't know what we were doing. We'd only known each other for seven months, but we were so in love, obviously still are. And so I thought, cool, what a journey. We're gonna have two best friends. Um, but obviously, what comes with that is the financial stress, right? Far out, having a budget for twins. Yeah, no one prepares you for that.
SPEAKER_02Did you have any ideas twins could be on the card? Or was like well, obviously it was completely out of nowhere, but like, was there any inkling? We have a lot of guests come on and they're like, oh, you know, I just had a feeling it might be twins.
SPEAKER_03I am it's so funny because anyone that I talked to has mentioned to me, and I've forgotten that I said this, I'd always mentioned you watch, I'll have twins. So I think I just manifested it. Yeah. But once I went in there, I completely forgot. I thought, my sister's got three boys, I'm one of three girls, I'm just gonna have a boy, and then we're gonna go again, and I'm gonna have another boy, and you know, like I just went with that pattern. Um, but I ovulated twice. Right. So that's how it happened. The girls are fraternal, like honey has brown eyes and dark curly hair. Maya has blue eyes and light brown hair, and it's just so cool because they look like little besties. I love it. Yeah, I love that.
SPEAKER_00Oh, well, if we get into the pregnancy with the girls, um, how was pregnancy with you? Obviously, you're a very strong, fit, athletic person. Did that help you in pregnancy or how was uh the experience? Gabby, you're taking me back to a place I don't want to go to.
SPEAKER_03Okay, it was. I tell everyone it was the worst time of my life. I don't care what anybody says. It was the worst time. I we laughed through the whole thing. Don't worry, you can laugh with me. That's all you've got to do. It's the only way through it. Because I'm so used to, I guess, carrying myself and treating my body a certain way.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And I didn't really believe my sister when she's like, no, everything changes. You're just not, you can't prepare for it because it is different for everyone, no matter your background, whether you're the fittest person on earth or not. And I gained 33 kilos faster than you can say bang. And I had ginger vitis, so my gums were like flipping off my teeth. Oh gosh. I smelt like crap. I had to take, I had to take aspirin for um uh preclamcia.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So that was quite scary. My iron got down to 11, and I remember the heart palpitations every night. I said to Tom, we're going to go public originally, and they just weren't listening to me with you know the iron issues. And I said to him, I genuinely feel like I'm gonna die on the table. I will pay anything to go private. My dumbass. I had private health, but I didn't have the pregnancy cover. I didn't realize I wasn't. I think that is the most disgusting thing. It should just cover everything. I think that's just a horrible thing to do to women. And so we ended up paying for private health, and my OB pretty much said, two more days of this, and you probably would have been having a blood transfusion. Like it was. At what stage was this? At what stage being four months pregnant? Yeah, so just like oh, terrible. I just felt like I wasn't being heard until I saw shout out Dr. Scott Schema. Heard lots about Scott Schema. You need to get him on the pod. Gee makes you want to get pregnant again. Like, no thanks. Him and his team. I don't get it. And that's saying something. And yes, I was vomiting every day, sleeping six to seven hours a day. Like I just I felt terrible. And I don't know if you girls had this, but certain smells would just set me off. Tom thought I turned autistic overnight because he'd kiss me and then I just wiped my mouth. I just couldn't hack him being near me. As soon as the girls came out though, everything went away. I couldn't believe it. Like everything and you forget about it. That's how they make you feel like some more. It's a trap. And so after that, yeah, the girls were out for about an hour, and I had to go back into the emergency kind of area to let my heart rate, you know, slow down. I'm not a I'm not in the medical field, but all these things were going on. Poor Tom's worrying, and I'm just there, like, you know, you you're full of the drugs and whatever that they give you. And I'm like, buddy, I don't even care. Just roll me out so I can see him. Even if this is my last day on earth, just let me see him. Um, but obviously it was all fine in the end.
SPEAKER_00What stage did they get to? When did you give birth?
SPEAKER_0335 weeks. Yeah, I yeah, I said to Scott, I was like, look, I'd like to try natural, but I understand how twin pregnancies um, you know, can turn out and everything's last minute. Ours was last minute. Honey's blood cord levels had, I think, increased. You don't want it to increase, I'm pretty sure. Yeah. And so he said, pack a bag, I'll see you in two days. And that was another shock because it's like, I've had so much time to think and plan, but now I'm actually, you never think it's going to happen. Do you know what I mean? Like you get so used to being pregnant, and like, oh my god, we're gonna be a family in like two days. I can't, I'm not ready.
SPEAKER_02It's so weird when you know your date. It is such a strange feeling. I don't even know how to put it into words. When you're like, literally in two days, a whole world is gonna change, and these babies, like they feel real, but they don't. But they're literally gonna be in our arms and we're gonna be like this is bizarre.
SPEAKER_03Oh, it's so weird, and like even you know, they've been inside you the whole time and then they come out. It's like you've had these little sea monkeys that have been I can't. It's like a weird science project, and I just I don't know. I think at the end of the day, it's like, wow, I'm so grateful, regardless of how the pregnancy went and birthed, I'm so grateful I got to experience it. Um so yeah, far out.
SPEAKER_00What a journey. How did you quote mentally? Like, were you quite anxious in the pregnancy for like I know in twin pregnancies, obviously it's higher risk, or were you just too sick to even have time to think about that? And I guess also mentally, like not being able to train and move your body probably was hard for you.
SPEAKER_03Oh, it was the best break. I'm not gonna lie. I had been, yeah. Being an elite athlete for what the better half of 12 years, I think, it made me appreciate being able to just stop and be like a regular everyday fun loving person. So that was quite nice.
SPEAKER_02Despite what week did you stop, like what when did you wrap up training?
SPEAKER_03I stopped running, I want to say, bar out, six weeks in, seven weeks. My SIJ was on fire. So my pelvic floor, everything was just so sore. I still kept up with F-45 maybe twice a week, once to twice. And then it got to the point where I just said to Tom, I need a break. I can't, I just can't even think about training because you know what it's like. You're overheating, you're sweating, you feel like you stink, everyone can smell you, you're uncomfortable, people are looking at you because you're pregnant, and everyone wants to make sure you're okay. Oh yeah. And I hate making other people feel uncomfortable. So I'd be like, I'm fine, I'm fine. I'd get in the car and just start vomiting. It was so bad. Yeah, but um, yeah, that's why I'm like, oh, he wants to go again after LA. And I'm like, look, ball's in your court. I just have this weird feeling we'll get twins again.
SPEAKER_00That's like we've had two twins that have had two twin mums twice on recently. And like I I sometimes consider a fourth, and now I'm like, no way, because I'd then have five. So no, thank you. That's like a next level. Um, did you ever feel there was like pressure, despite how you were feeling, to maintain your you know, physical fitness given your career being an elite athlete?
SPEAKER_03Oh it's funny. I feel my coach is great. He was like, look, I'll see you when I see you. Don't even worry. Um, I think he was just as shocked. But we came up with a plan, and um, so being coached by Kathy Freeman's old coach, and he's 80 now. Wow, but the wisdom and patience he has, he was so easy to talk to because he said, Morgan, you're not making any team anytime soon being pregnant. So why would we bother right now? Just go and enjoy that time. And we are so close and intertwined that people might have tried to put pressure on us and question what we were doing post. A lot of people thought I was retiring. And it was just quite nice having him and Tom and my family to lean on because it's like, well, they're gonna try and put pressure on me, but it's my career. Like, yeah, yeah. I think that's the best part about being in an individual sport is you get to make the shot, call the shots and make the moves, right? So you know your body better than anyone else. Yeah, and I think it was actually the one time in my career where people would make the excuse for me, like, oh, don't even stress you're pregnant. Because you know, your body changes, you're not used to the shape or whatever. And they're like, Morgan, you're pregnant, relax. Whereas when I'm at my fittest, that's when they want to be like, you've got cellulite, you're fat.
SPEAKER_04No. I don't know.
SPEAKER_03I said to Tom, I might have to get pregnant more often.
SPEAKER_01It gives you a break.
SPEAKER_00It gives you a break.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it gives you a break, yeah.
SPEAKER_00So I wonder if people would have been like more pressure if it was just one baby, because it's too like everyone's like, oh, just leave her alone. That's too hard.
SPEAKER_04Oh daddy, I can be a dragon as well.
SPEAKER_03So I think they need you not to come for me.
SPEAKER_02All those hormones running wild. So then you go from this incredibly structured life as an athlete where so much of your day and your body is within your control, to newborn twins where absolutely nothing is in your control. What do you remember most about those first few weeks you brought the twins home?
SPEAKER_03They were honestly amazing from the start. Like we had so they were in NICU for two and a half weeks. Honey was 1.7 kilos.
SPEAKER_01So little.
SPEAKER_03I know she was tiny, and Maya was only 2.2, so they're both small. Um, and all they had to do was grow, essentially. Like, thank God, you know, everything went well. Um, so we were in and out of hospital every single day. We'd spend the morning with them, go home for two hours, I'd sleep, I'd pump, come back, drop off the milk, spend lunch till the afternoon, and do the same thing. Go home, have dinner, come back, feed them again with the nurses, kiss them good night. And it was just on repeat for two and a half weeks. And it honestly just broke my heart to see how overworked the nurses were and how stressed they were, but what a good job they do. And then families who don't necessarily they're not necessarily waiting for their babies to grow. You know, their issues are a lot worse than what I was going through. So I think that was a real eye-opener and it made me realise from an early stage, just be thankful for the position you're in. Um, they'll be home soon, they're growing and everything's going well. But yeah, I just wouldn't need, I would not wish that all my worst enemy having to spend time in NICU, experiencing like it's like secondhand heartbreak, right? Yeah. Um and that really killed me. I remember obviously my hormones are running wild, but I think motherhood made me so empathetic towards other people and what they're going through. That I was just like, fuck Tom, I've actually got to get out of here because it's killing me every single day. I feel like it's just the emotions are getting worse and worse. Um, but yeah, the good thing about the nurses is that they got the girls into such a nice routine that they sleep in separate cots but they fall asleep at the same time. One can cry, the other one's not waking up, they're so used to it. Nicky, you share a room with six babies.
SPEAKER_02Like Yeah. We hear this all the time that like NICKU babies come out with the best routines.
SPEAKER_03But we also, I think, got used to it because when it was time to take them home, I remember just staring over their little bassinets and I was like to Tom, what do we do? Like I would ask him questions like, are we allowed to feed them now? He's like, Morgan, they're our kids. I just because the nurses did such a perfect job. I was just like, I can't do what they did. The phone. Oh, it takes them in the babies. Yeah. Yeah. Isn't it? And that drive home, it's so funny. Everyone says that drive home is the slowest drive of your life. I didn't realize. I was like, oh, it'll be fun. Tom's driving. He obviously has to go over a few speed humps. And I, the death says, I was like, you idiot. Slower. He's like, Morgan, if I go any slower, I'm gonna be in reverse. Like, would you relax?
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, bullass. No. Oh, that you know, mother's instinct is kicking in.
SPEAKER_03It's crazy. I never thought I'd be like that.
SPEAKER_02I know you change it. It's like how it's crazy how quickly you can change overnight.
SPEAKER_03Oh my god, and putting it's nice to put others before yourself. Like I've been so selfish with my career. Even now, yeah, I still get the time to train, but if the girls obviously were a little bit older and could speak English and said, Mom, we want you to quit, I'd be like, Cool, I'll quit. I don't like it's your world now, not mine, and I really appreciate that. And it's taught me to like tell my friends that I love them and give them hugs. They know it's not really my thing. It's softened me a lot.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, becoming a mum, just everything that you thought was important and all your priorities, it completely like shifts them into another gear. Like it's yeah, it's crazy, like how all your perspective changes and things that matter don't matter anymore, and it's just all about your little family unit.
SPEAKER_03Isn't it the best? Like nothing matters, you know what I mean? So it's good.
SPEAKER_02What was there anything about twin motherhood that completely surprised you?
SPEAKER_03Um, other than the price of everything. Oh, geez, honestly, that's I think that's a real killer. I think it's also oh you I feel it shouldn't come as a surprise, but it always does. It's just the comments that people make. Yeah. I think I'm just tired about that because I'm a bit of a smart ass. Um, so I do try to deflect away from the negativity or just stupid shit. Sorry, I do swear a lot. I'm trying to like rein it in. No, we swear too much time. Yeah. Or like, I think for me, the issue was people having an opinion when they're not a twin mum. That's the one thing that would put me the wrong way. It's like, yeah, you can have the two under two and three under five, but you have never had two at the same time, at the same age, screaming and crying and you know, going off their nut. Um, so I just didn't want to hear it. And I said to Tom, let's just delete all the apps, like all the pregnancy apps. I need a break from that because I feel pressured and I'm always on my phone. Um, and let's just kind of go with the flow. So, really early, we change that vibe to whatever they want and need in the moment, we do that. We're not gonna listen to anyone else. And unless it's really bad, his sister, Jen, she's amazing. She's a nurse. So if we ever see a rash where there's a coffee, I'm just like, message Jen.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. No, no, I love that that you deleted the apps. Like, I had all the fret my friends go, you need this app and you need to track this and you need to track that. And I was so overwhelmed, and I ended up doing the same thing. I just deleted them. Like, I had a bit of a like a routine and schedule that I followed. But apart from that, I never like recorded anything in the apps. I just had no apps the whole time. Like, people ask me all the time, like, what apps did you use? Can you let me know? I'm like, no, I did nothing. Like, yeah, nothing at all.
SPEAKER_03And you save so much energy and just peace of mind. The apps cost money. They really honestly, they like invite you in. Oh, we're cute and aesthetic, and you know, your baby's gonna sleep the best for $59.99 a month. I'm like, oh my god, it's the last thing I need.
SPEAKER_02And it's like when they get a bit older, then it's all about the leaps and stuff. And I think that can, you know, make mothers nervous, like, oh my child hasn't done this yet. But like we've had experts on, and these things don't all like it, they don't turn four months, and exactly, you know, this happens, or at six months, this definitely happens. So I didn't love the pressure that it kind of puts.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, because then you start comparing and what what's what's that? This is baby brain. But what's that saying? Comparison is the joy of joy.
SPEAKER_02The joy of things. I was nodding along, like, yeah, that's right.
SPEAKER_03Something about comparison and stealing the joy. It's just not good, it's not good.
SPEAKER_02And then like indirectly with your twins as well, because you've got these apps and like one twin's ahead of the other, you're then going, what's wrong with the other twin? Like, oh no.
SPEAKER_03And that's what I didn't want to do. It's like Maya's teeth came through months before Honey. Honey was a little gummy shark. But then Honey's walking before Maya, and I was like, you know what? They're gonna grow up. Regardless, they will grow up and it'll all be fine. Like, there's so much technology and information out there if we need it. But I look back at my mum and how they parented, you know, back in the 90s. Like, they didn't have any of this, they did just fine.
SPEAKER_00I sent Shenade these memes all the time from like that thing about growing up in the 90s and how much better it was. Oh, yeah, honestly. There was no pressure.
SPEAKER_02Like, oh okay, so you're someone who was used to pushing your body physically and mentally. Did that help you in the newborn stage, or was twin motherhood a completely different kind of hard?
SPEAKER_03Um it's so funny. Like, it's a different kind of hard for sure. It's a fun hard. I really enjoyed it to be honest. But I think also like the way I grew up and what I had gone through as a kid, it just made me appreciate what I have. Like, I, you know, almost tried to join a mother's group, and for me, I just couldn't be around the negativity.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um, and I would honestly just refer it to my upbringing. Like, it wasn't the best upbringing. So, who am I to complain about babies that just want to be fed or just need a nappy change? Or, you know, they're just emotional and they're So young and fresh to this world that they don't know how to regulate their emotions. So I feel like the girls are 16, 17 months now. But for the most part, every time something would go wrong, Tom and I would just laugh at each other. We're like, if we don't laugh, we're gonna cry. Let's just keep laughing. Ha ha ha ha. Yeah, and I think that's one. I just try to look at the positives all the time because I know it can be stressful. You're lacking sleep. But yeah, I'm like, mate, kids overseas are getting literally bombed. Like, who am I to complain about two little angels that, you know, might cry every now and then? And that's I know that mentality might not be for everyone, but it's kind of what works for me. And even with athletics, we're so used to having to travel the world, different countries, you don't speak the language, different foods, we're not used to it, you lose your luggage, all these things going on. That I think one of the strengths that taught me is just to adapt, you know, at the drop of a hat and things will change. And unless it's like a red alert serious to just try and, you know, I lean on Tom a lot for that stuff. Like he's the most calm stoic person, and I think that's why it works because he's just like still water, and I'm this fucking raging, fiery pit, and I love it. Because he lets me be me.
SPEAKER_02Well, that's very important. Yeah, yeah. And and do you think if we go if we look at it in contrast, do you think becoming a mum has actually changed you as an athlete?
SPEAKER_03Oh, a thousand percent. It is so funny. Like it makes me realize how much I love my job and how much I love the sport, but then also that it is just running. Um, when I retire, I'm still gonna have the best family ever and life goes on. But it's just like, okay, I get two hours a day to myself, running's my outlet, but it's not the be-all and end all. Whereas I used to think, oh my god, what are sponsors gonna say? What are people gonna say? And now I'm just it just make you know what it's like. It's like CareFactor's just gone out the window. And I love that. Like it honestly gave me a new challenge as well because I said to my coach, we've got a year to try and get back onto the international circuit. This is actually a fun way to do it. It's something different and exciting. It's you know, keeping me in the sport because it's so foreign. Um, but yeah, again, like I said, athletics could end tomorrow. And that's like the power of motherhood and having a family starting a family is that you just don't care if it does, you know, as long as your family's safe and happy. I'm like, whatever, running okay.
SPEAKER_02I love you. I mean, I I love your perspective on everything, it's so positive. And like that's the best way to be.
SPEAKER_03I feel like life's too short, right? Yeah, my one thing, like for the longest time, I was doing a bit of work with a charity I grew up in, Cottage by the Sea. They're actually down in Geelong. Oh, yeah, and it just makes you realize every kid deserves a chance and every kid deserves to be happy. That's baseline for me. Safe and happy. Like, as long as the girls are that, uh cool. That's all they need.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's such a nice perspective because sometimes you get fogged down and like trying to be do everything perfectly, and with social media, it's like even harder because everyone's telling you you need to be doing this and that and whatever. And you're right, you just need to be loved and feel loved and happy.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and that's free. Yeah, that's nothing.
SPEAKER_00We're twins, we need friends. All right, if we go to your career though, and getting back into your career, when did you decide it was time? Did you have a plan like before like before?
SPEAKER_03Kind of. The plan was always LA. So I gave birth in 2025, May, and I said to my coach, whatever happens between now and LA, at least we've got three years to get there. I don't really care. And then he came up with a timeline. I think you can hit this time by this month, we can do this by next year. We still need to try and make worlds in 2027 because it's a good stepping stone. And then training was just so consistent and going so well. I thought, you know what? Let's just go to Japan this year. I think I'll do well. I think I'll run well enough. He I hope he watches this because I tell him all the time. He thought I was gonna stick with 53-5 in the 400. And I said, you wait, I'll run 52-2. And his eyes nearly popped out of his head. But it's just the power of belief and manifestation. I was like, mate, you coached the gold medal. You know what I mean? Like, I have so much belief that we can do it. I love our training. Um, and so yeah, we just I I think I had eight weeks postpartum. I was allowed to start walking. I had a C section.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Holy, not gonna swear. Holy moly. Holy moly. I was not ready for the recovery, uh, mate. I like I think that actually messed me up more than anything mentally because even just trying to sit up out of bed hard, coughing hard, laughing hard, breathing, everything was hard from the moment the girls came out till about eight to 12 weeks postpartum. And so I was allowed to walk 500 meters. First thing in the morning, I'd be like, see it, Tom, going for a walk. And one time I pushed it. I went, I did a lap of the Albert Park Lake, and I should have only done half and came home. And I said to him, I was like, fuck, you're gonna have to call Dr. Scott. I've done something. Like I was convinced that I'd torn my stitches, and he pulled me right back. He was like, Morgan, I tried telling you like it's pretty serious. I know you're an athlete, but this is like lower abdominal surgery. This isn't through seven layers. Yeah, and I need a panel. I need someone to do something for say International Women's Day or whatever to really talk about C-sections because I used to think, yep, he's just gonna cut through seven layers. It's just seven layers, like whatever, I'll come back.
SPEAKER_00What a hard thing is. It ain't. I've done both, it is not. You can speak to it, Gabriel. You've done both, I've done both, and it is the fucking hard way out.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it is fucking hard, and I wasn't even cleared to do abs until like six months in. I I just couldn't sit up. Yeah, I wanted to take my time because I think I rushed a little bit with the running and all of that. And I was also scared, like any kind of pulling action or like you know, lifting. Oh, I'm just taking myself back. It was so painful. It was so, so painful.
SPEAKER_02So it's coming back to me too, like that disconnect. Like you were so strong in your abs before, and then you feel like it's not all joint together. Yeah, like I don't even I don't even know how to explain it.
SPEAKER_03It's like I can feel it again. And so, yeah, sorry, we started with walking for two to three months, walking, jogging. Then I'd only do the warm-up at training that was maybe four months in, and that's like a 2K jog. That was really hard. And it wasn't until about six months in when we were, you know, really starting to roll. Um, and then within 10 months, we were back. But yeah, the first six months, it was the hardest, hardest comeback of my career. And I know people say, I do believe in mum strength 100%. I just feel like it's not just your hormones and whatever else is going on internally, but it's definitely a mental thing because you realize what you can do off no sleep, you realize what you can do when you're under the pump trying to raise two children. Um, and that just made me stronger. I think that's what made me stronger physically. It's like far out. If I can do that, I can do anything. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00I feel like you know, any normal mom is still just trying to get back to some level of fitness I can't imagine trying to come back to elite athlete level. Do you actually think that you're like like fitter than you were before?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I'm crazy though. That's that's the other. I always tell when mums ask, I'm like, look, I'm a little crazy. But it's also different. Like when you're trying to go to the Olympics, I think I've got a team around me, so I'm very fortunate and lucky. And I think I forget that that I've got professionals helping me. Um sometimes people are like, you make it look so easy. I'm like, yeah, yeah, whatever. But then I feel bad because it's like, oh, well, this is all I've known, and it's always there. And I just wish I could kind of give that to mums who don't necessarily have that support and want to get back. Um, because yeah, it is really tough sometimes to find time for yourself, time for your family. Then you've got to give your husband a break as well, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So it's a juggling act.
SPEAKER_00Was there ever a point where you felt like um like choosing between your career and your kids?
SPEAKER_03Oh, every day. Yeah, so okay, cool. Cool. You know, and not just me. Every day. It's just so hard because going trying to race on the circuit is so expensive, right? Like people think it's a European summer, but you always come home in the red with last-minute flights and last-minute races and trying to focus on yourself. But then I'm also like, wow, now I have to budget and make sure the girls are sorted too. Do I really, really want this? And I sit down with Tom, he he's amazing. I sit down with him almost twice a week, three times a week, and I'm like, are you okay? This is another week, this is what I've got this week. I'm gonna be away a lot, I'm going away for a month. And we did say we'd sit down after LA, depending on how we're both feeling. The girls will be three. And I was like, look, if we get through the next two and a half years and you want me to quit, because he carries most of the time, he's carrying 80 to 90 percent of the load now. I was like, baby, as soon as I cross that line, you tell me where you want to go and I'll book you a one-way ticket. And the girls and I will meet you at home. Like I love it. Such a good dynamic that you guys have, though. The roles were reversed. I always tell him, I'm like, couldn't be me. You are not gonna you're a solo.
SPEAKER_02No way. As you touched on, your career obviously involves travel. Do the twins generally travel with you, or are there times where you're away from them?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's so this was our first year um doing it. We they came to Japan later in the schedule, which was really nice. I I thought, you know what, let's get their passport stamps going. I really think it's important for them to see the world, and I want that to be a big part of their upbringing. Europe, they didn't. I feel so bad. I know. I felt I was on the plane, like, yes. And then after a week, I was just like, oh my gosh, I have to get home. And so I started planning, you know, that early um departure to surprise Tom. But we just pick and choose. It depends on what Tom can do with his work. If we've got family that can help, you know, get them over there and back. We have a nanny every now and then, she's like a bestie. Um, so it really is hard. But I think now I did tell Tom I'd rather I'd be more intentional with the trips overseas, so I wouldn't go over for as long, try and get the races in, come home. Because I think it's made me realize, and I was talking to Sally Pearson a few years ago when she was still active, and she was like, Morgan, I've qualified for every major, and I usually do most of my races and whatever and training in Australia, so it can be done if you have the right setup, and it just depends on what we can do at that point in time with everyone's schedules, really.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, because what how much like when you go overseas, like say you're going to Europe, obviously it's going to take you a couple of days to like adjust to jet lag, yeah. I guess weather and everything like that. What's the shortest amount of time you can kind of be awake?
SPEAKER_03Europe, I think I could it's hard. I'd like to think I could do two weeks, but they usually say minimum three. Right. Yeah, to get over.
SPEAKER_02I know like there's moments like me and Gabby always joking about going holidays. That's nice, you know. And I've I've I've I had to go away for work once for a couple of days, and it was it was so hard. I was so sad and torn up about it. But when I was there, I was like, oh wow, like you know. I needed this. Yeah, I needed this. Well, it was actually a lot of work, but to be yeah, in my mind it was meant to be like that. But um, but yeah, how how do you navigate that? Like, how do you, you know, the guilt and like yeah, that yeah, just that motherly, like you, you know, the bond you want to be with your baby, but then you've gotta you've gotta do this for you as well and for your family.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think the one thing I miss, I wish they got to see Europe and we could all just, you know, play in the ocean and whatever. That's what killed me was the fact that they didn't get to experience that yet. Yeah. But honestly, Cheney, I'm not even gonna lie, I fucking love myself. I was like to Tom, you're gonna get the best, most tan version of me if I just go and run fast, get some sun. Um as queen, sorry. I am all for being selfish. I always say you need your own time to be the best version of yourself. And that's when your daughters or sons, sorry, as well, will pick up on that and be like, oh my god, mummy's happy, mummy's present, you know. And that's why I can see with Tom, I'm like, oh my gosh, I need to get this guy a boys' trip somewhere or even just a retreat because now he needs his reset.
SPEAKER_02I love that you're always thinking of him too, because it's so easy to fall into that trap. Like, you know, you know, you know, this is my career, blah, blah, blah. But like, you know, he is doing a lot at home too and working himself. So it's like so nice that you're still, you know, keeping that in mind.
SPEAKER_00You're selfish, but you're also not selfish because you're thinking of it. So Gabby.
SPEAKER_02Are we um are we booking Europe now?
SPEAKER_00Two weeks. You can't tell everyone. Look, I'm look- I'm booking two nights at Crown for my birthday. That's as far as I'm getting. See. But it's gonna be good for the solar. Oh, like I'm gonna read a book and I'm gonna go to the spa, and I'm gonna take myself out to Nobu, and it's gonna be the best time ever. Like, I just need that reset. And it actually, I'm not running like I'm not an athlete. It's actually better that you're not.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we are doing a challenge right now, though.
SPEAKER_00Yes, but I'm not, I'm not an elite athlete. But I you do need a break. Like, and I'm at that point where I'm burnt out, and I've just acknowledged that and noticed that and said to my husband, yeah, like I just to be a better mum, I just need a little reset for me. Yeah, and I think it's it's okay to need that.
SPEAKER_02Like when she told me about it, I was like, Andy, um, Gabby is going away for two nights, so I think I'm gonna do that too. Do you want to go down with me?
SPEAKER_03You can fly down. Oh my god, go to Spice Temple, one of my favourite restaurants. You joking. Well, I'll go everywhere.
SPEAKER_00We've got two nights. I will work my way through all of Crown. I love it. Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_02So, like, what is the hardest part for like being away from the kids?
SPEAKER_03Oh, I the thing that really killed me is they grow up so fast, you do miss milestones. Um, I think that was the saddest thing, is like, you know, they're now speaking, they're walking. Well, honey's running. Jesus Christ, she's so quick. She's so cheeky. I could go on about that all day. But that's what really killed me. I came home and I'm like, oh my god, you girls are so big, and I just missed, I've now missed what, I want to say, in the space of 17 months, at least two and a half months of their growth and development. And there are things you want to see because once it it's gone, it doesn't come back, right? Like they're gonna be adults, what feels like very soon. Oh, it goes through. Yeah, and I think that's what made me really, really sad. And I just I don't that's the hardest part. I really don't want to miss too much of that over the next few years because they're like the most precious years ever. And then you know, they grow up, they want to leave home, they're fighting with them, and drinking, and boys and girls, and parties, and I'd like to tell them I might as well soak this up while we can. While they still uh into us, you know what I mean? So it's really tough.
SPEAKER_02Oh, I can imagine. Do you have any like rituals to stay connected like while you're traveling? Like I imagine like FaceTime every day.
SPEAKER_03Oh, it's so cute. We FaceTime every night, we always send updates as well. Tom and I we're even testing from like the other room. It's we're so weird. Um, and I I'm a bit of a geek, like obviously you girls know I've got Korean, but studying Spanish or whatever. But when I travel, I write postcards. So I used to do it to mum, you know, 10 years ago when I was on the circuit. And it's just nice because Tom will get them. The girls can read them when they're a little bit older. But I always do try to bring home a gift or you know, just because I I understand, even family aside, not everyone gets to experience the life of an athlete and the way we live. And we sometimes forget how privileged we are, I think. Um, so yeah, it's just the small, more sentimental things that I like to do. I don't know if Tom I don't even know if Tom likes them. He puts them like she's in the binge. Sure.
SPEAKER_00No. But yeah, we as long as we're in touch, as long as they're safe, then I'm yeah, I'm sweet. Yeah, nice. Social media often shows the highlights that every family has chaos behind the scenes. When you're not traveling the world, what does a normal day look like for your family?
SPEAKER_03Oh my gosh, normal day. If there is annoying Yeah, every and so because we're we're in a really good routine. I just feel so bad because for me, oh my god, this is so bad. It's like it's not, I don't know, the girls are just so cool and chill. Like, people want to come over and hang out. And I'm like, well, you're gonna have to kind of like really insert yourself because they've got each other and we don't really intervene unless they want our attention. But you know, we wake up, I make Tom coffee. I try to do the morning shift, so from 5 a.m. because honey's an early morning party from 5 a.m. till lights out, she's uh go, go, go. And Maya, oh Maya can sleep in 12 hours straight. So honey and I make daddy coffee, I do the change. Sometimes I try to wait till Tom wakes up to change him because I I'm sorry, but poo first thing in the morning. I just can't hack. And when there's two of them, I'm not doing it. Um, morning walk with the dog, I'll go to training, come back. This is when the girls aren't in daycare. Uh, and then I'll just pretty much hang out with them all day. So they'll play, we paint, we draw, we try to like it's not like we're strictly no screens. I'm strictly no annoying songs. So they've never heard Baby Shark and it I can't, not in my house. I will be putting around reality. Of Beverly Hills. You can watch Lisa Rinner, you're not watching Baby Shark. That's that is my only rule. Um but we're not strict on the no screen time, they're just not into it, which is quite lucky. That's good. Yeah, so I'm just hanging out with them until they're nap. We play a bit more and then I go to training. Tom does dinner and you know, bath time, and then I go to the room.
SPEAKER_02Is it two training sessions a day, is it?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, sometimes. Yeah, every day. Uh almost, yeah. So we'll say so six days I'm training, at least four, three to four are double at the moment. It lightens off, don't get me wrong. Yeah. Um, but yeah, we still we have like the best daycare center. So the girls, when they're in daycare, we get time to ourselves. I mean, poor Tom, he's still working. And then on the weekends, we just try to see family and hang out. We're very we're still, I think we're still quite, I don't know, we're like recluse at the moment. You know, like if people want to hang out, it really has to be planned two months in advance because I just can't be bothered. Like, I'm so tired with training, lack of sleep, putting all this energy into two babies. So yeah, it's I don't know, we definitely try to go with the flow, but a lot of it does happen at home. Yeah, you're in your body. Like local, yeah. And I I love that. We are both homebodies, particularly at that age, though.
SPEAKER_00Like, I was not going anywhere at that age.
SPEAKER_03Like, yeah, did you did you find it was quite did you feel weirdly guilty? I don't know, the other day I was a bit like, oh, is this normal? But then I'm like also loving it.
SPEAKER_02Well, I think every twin mum goes through that stage, and then I think you'll you'll in you know, a few months later or a year later, you'll be like, okay, we go out all the time, and then we recluse again, and then we go out all the time. I think it just c it's constantly changing, and when you find your rhythm, it changes again, as you know. And I think it goes the same with like actually leaving the house as well. We go through like real homebody periods, and I feel a bit guilty, and I'm like, oh, yeah, you get out more.
SPEAKER_00There's every little stage though, and then like we were talking about this on the podcast the other week, like how you're in the next stage, and then you're like wishing that you were back in the other stage. It's like just be grateful for it. Isn't that wild? Yeah, 100%. Um, you touched on daycare, but I guess like obviously to pursue your career. There needs to be a village, it's not possible. It's like is daycare your village? Do you have family support?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I it's so being on this podcast has made me realise a lot of things. The Kylie, the Kylie Jenner, we're realizing stuff. Um I because I do tell people like we found it hard. Like, I think Tom's found it a lot harder than myself because I still, you know, have Europe and athletics and whatever, and he's very much, you know, the mum and the dad at the moment. But it is easy in the sense that we have daycare. The girls are in there three days a week. Um, we just needed that. We needed breathing room. And I do love daycare. They learn so much, they make friends. So much. It's so good. And that it's like family-owned. Oh, it's just awesome. Um, his parents fly down whenever I'm away. They're from Canberra. His sisters are amazing, his brother is amazing. Um, one of his sisters lives here and she's obsessed. She's so cute. And then my mum tries to come up almost every weekend, which is really nice. But anyone in our circle, I just tell them, look, if you want to hang out, just come over. You know where we live, the door's always open. Just fucking like, don't try to plan with me because I'll be out training. I come home, hang out with them, but then I'm off training again. So one thing I think athletics taught me as well, and because it is a an individual sport, we're so used to asking for help. So I think that's why it came quite easily when I was like, Mom, we want to do date night, or you know, bestie, we want to do date night, do you want to hang out with the girls? And everyone just loves them. It's so cute. I'm gonna like take them, have them.
SPEAKER_04That's so funny.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, we have a really good system at the moment, and everyone in our lives they're just being so amazing and so patient. I don't know how they do it. It's yeah, to like just drop. Your life for kids that aren't even yours. I find that so admirable. Yeah. Absolutely. I need your village.
SPEAKER_00Do they want to come to Ceulum?
SPEAKER_03Can I say, Gabby? My mum actually would. That's the craziest part. This is the best grandma you will ever meet. Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02Okay, Morgan. We finish every episode with some rapid fire questions. So first thing that just comes to mind, are you ready?
SPEAKER_03No. I'm so not good at rapid fire. Everyone knows this.
SPEAKER_02Well, honestly, no one ever does rapid fire. It's always like we end up having like a five-minute combo for each one. Um, okay, three words to describe twin motherhood. Um, fun, horrific.
SPEAKER_03Uh no, horrific in a good way. Fun. Oh, what was the other word? I feel like once baby brain kicks in, and I'm trying to learn three languages. But English is now the third.
SPEAKER_02Like, I just I'm sorry to tell you it doesn't get better. Like, I'm three years in and the baby brain, I think, is actually getting worse. So Oh my god.
SPEAKER_03And I know, but I actually feel so dumb.
SPEAKER_02Like, and like I can't give you any pointers because I'm just getting dumber by the day. I don't know what I tell Gabby all the time, like, my brain doesn't work.
SPEAKER_00I want you to answer the question in Korean.
SPEAKER_03I'm only like 10 weeks in. I'm so it's like the hardest language to learn. I'm young SAO. Um fun. No, I won't say horrific horrific, I meant like thrilling. You know what I mean? Like it's yeah, you just don't know what they're gonna do. They're always trying to eat something and they're always falling over something. Um, and just I'd say unique for in a good way. Again, no one takes that in a negative light.
SPEAKER_02No, no, no. Special, special. You get it. There's no judgment here. Um the biggest misconception about having twins.
SPEAKER_03Oh, is that they want to do the same thing. Even now, honey and Maya are their own forces, they are twins, born at the same time, but they are not the same person, for sure.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And your biggest parenting hack. Oh, you again, the the lack of a better guess saying, I've always said this to myself and it seemed to have worked. The less you care, the easier it is. So don't stress about the small stuff. The less we've cared, it's been the best fucking journey. No, it's so true. It's so true.
SPEAKER_00I'm gonna take that advice. Um, what is your guilty pleasure when you finally get five minutes to yourself?
SPEAKER_03A one-way ticket to Europe.
SPEAKER_00All the real housewives.
SPEAKER_03Oh, every single season.
SPEAKER_00Real housewives, easily. Yeah. So good. Um, what's one thing you're proud of since becoming a mum?
SPEAKER_03Um I'm proud of, oh gosh, I don't know. I'm proud of whipping Tom into shape. He's just got back. I hope you can hear that. No, I am proud. What? Oh. I think I'm proud of being selfless and empathetic. That's something I didn't think I would be able to do. And they've taught me a lot about that version of myself. And I'm very proud that I can do that with vulnerability. I never, I used to shy away from it. So yeah. I think my friends appreciate it too. Oh my god, well, they've softened a little bit. Um they do. No, seriously, I was like so bad. Motherhood changes us, doesn't it? It's wild. I still don't feel like a mum. I don't know. Like, do you still feel like it, it's like a teenage pregnancy? Do you know what I mean? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I just enrolled my my eldest in school and I'm like, what? I can't be a school mum. That's insane. I just finished. I'm seriously just graduated.
SPEAKER_02It's crazy. I literally write the wrong age on like forms by accident because I'm like, how am I this age already? And how am I a mother? And how like I have to- I feel like a kid. Yeah, it's wild.
SPEAKER_03It's like bad because sometimes I'll be like, even when I was in Europe, I'd stop and be like, shit, I actually have like daughters.
SPEAKER_02I know. Even saying like daughter, uh like my daughter or my son for the very first time was so such a bizarre feeling. Oh. I loved it, but I was like, yeah. Like I'm a mum. My favorite though.
SPEAKER_00My favorite is when you're not with your kids and you tell someone you have kids and they're like, What? No, and I'm like, yeah, I do. I'm the twins. Believe it or not.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So how old are your kids? I've got a five-year-old, and then I've got that three-year-old twins on Sunday. They turned three. Oh my god, little Leos.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Also, what? Same age. Yeah. Yeah, mine were three in April, so a little bit older than Gabby's, but yeah, we're the same year. It's crazy. Boys, girls? Boy girls. Boy girls. We've both got boy girls. Yeah. Are you joking? Oh my god. So we like Gabby and I back and forth, like, does yours do this? Does yours do that? Like, oh my god, that's so cute. Yeah, we love it. We're lucked out.
SPEAKER_03We're so can I just ask? Do you one thing that like kind of makes me laugh? I don't know if I hate it or not. When people are like, you had two, you don't have to go again. Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_00Oh I hate that.
SPEAKER_03Oh, you already had two. You you did two in one. And I'm like, you're so lucky.
SPEAKER_00You just you did one and done or whatever.
SPEAKER_03So it's yes, that one.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, people say it all the time, and I'm like, look, I don't know. I don't know if I'm done, but it's like I want it to be my decision. Like you know, like, yeah, it's it's I know something a bit weird about that. Yeah, I think it's just like so many comments. Yeah, I think it's like a passing comment that they don't put thought in, it's just like that easy thing to say, and then like they don't really actually think of what they're saying. Yeah, yeah. Or from their perspective, if they've had a few kids, they might be like, oh, it's just easy to like do it all in one pregnancy and do it all at one time. But like, as we know, yeah, it's not like that. But if you know one is sunshine, can you imagine two at one time? Yeah, yeah. I just think people don't think about it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I've got one more question. One more wrapper. Yes. Finally, what is the hill you die on when it comes to raising multiples?
SPEAKER_03Oh, what is a hill I die on? Oh, people are gonna hate me for saying this. And I say this to my mates who ask about, you know, the rules that we have in our house with the kids, you know, like no screen time, no lollies, no sugar, la la la. And a hill I'm willing to die on is who gives a shit because they're gonna get to fucking 18 years old and party and get into alcohol and go missing and lie to you. So I don't care if they've had an MM for dinner. I don't care if they're eating gluten at the age of three. That's that like I a lot of people don't agree. But I look at my upbringing as a teenager and I'm like, oh my god, screen time is the least of my worries right now.
SPEAKER_02But isn't it true? Isn't it true the ones that had stricter parents? Like those are the kids that were about to be. They seek it out. They seek it out. I'm just saying what I saw before.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, a hundred percent. Like when you try to rein them in and keep them on a leash, they're the ones that are just fucking naughty ass. Because they never had that breeding room. Exactly. Um, but I did tell Tom, I was like, look, buddy, I grew up with no rules. Like a single mum with three crazy girls, you'd understand. So if you do want a little bit of, you know, structure, you gotta come up with that. I don't even care.
SPEAKER_02I love it, I love it. Well, Morgan, thank you so much for joining us on All At Once. Your story is such a powerful reminder that motherhood and and ambition can exist together even when the path looks completely different to what you imagined. We know so many parents, especially those raising twins and multiples, will see themselves in your honesty and around your juggle, the guilt, the joy, and everything in between. So, anyone wanting to keep up with Morgan's journey, we'll have all of her details linked in the show notes. Thank you so much for joining us.
SPEAKER_03Oh, thanks, girls.
SPEAKER_02That was so much fun.
SPEAKER_03That was so fun. You guys are so funny, I love it.
SPEAKER_02Oh, we could chat all day. That's a wrap for today on All at Once. We hope you laughed, maybe cried a little, and most importantly, felt seen while navigating the chaos of raising multiples. We release new episodes every week. Subscribe to keep them coming. And if you want more in between, you can find us on TikTok and Instagram, sharing behind the scenes moments, practical tips, and exclusive guest insights. Or watch the full episode on YouTube. It's messy, loud, and beautiful. Life with multiples all at once.