Jacqui Lachmann definitely walks at slower pace now than in 2008. In her thirty-ninth week of pregnancy there is no denying that the rotund bump Lachmann (née Lawrence) is carrying is presenting some new challenges.

‘I’ve had a pretty easy pregnancy but it’s definitely a mental challenge in terms of expecting a huge change and trying to mentally prepare for it when you’ve never done it before.’ This change is one of many since the last Olympics.

In the space of four years, the Australian silver medal winner has bought an apartment and married her fellow Olympian husband, sprint C1 paddler Torsten Lachmann, in addition to falling pregnant with a baby girl. Due any day now, Lachmann is calling on some old sporting methods to help her through this enormous life change.

‘I’m using some of the skills I used as an athlete, like visualisation, not just in thinking about bringing the baby home but in preparing for labour. I’ve also been learning as much as I can and informing myself as best I can, which is something I did as an athlete. And of course, I had many years of pushing myself physically, but I’m still expecting labour to be hard!’

Lachmann’s present calm and domestic attitude is a lifetime away from the determined and driven face she presented four years ago. This must in part be down to the fairy tale ending of her canoeing career.

An outside chance on the day, Lachmann achieved an impressive solid run on a tough Beijing course that had swept many K1 women’s runs aside that day. Lachmann attributes her medal winning outlook to putting the games into perspective.

I feel I got some good perspective on life before the selection races and before Olympics. It helped me to perform because I could put myself as athlete in perspective alongside other priorities and experiences in life.

‘Retirement was an easy decision for me. I don’t have any regrets or questions about whether I should have kept going and I realise I’m really fortunate with that’. The only part of her old life she misses, is seeing her international friends, she concedes.

Lachmann’s younger sisters, Kate and Ros, will be racing for the Olympic spot in February. With her increasingly maternal outlook, Lachmann has some sage advice for her siblings.
‘Trust yourself. You’ve already got a lot of experience; you know what works and doesn’t work for you. Trust your gut.’

I can’t help thinking that Lachmann may find her own advice especially apt in the next few months.

UPDATE Wednesday 21 December 2011: She's finally arrived! Lina Sarah Lachmann born 12:02am 21/12/11. 3.75kg, 52cm. Beautiful & perfect :-)