Olympic Silver Medalist and Mom Noelle Pikus-Pace on Why You Shouldn't Try to Be a Perfect Parent

By Olivia Simone

Skeleton racer Noelle Pikus-Pace made the comeback of a lifetime at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. After breaking her leg in a training accident back in 2005, which left her unable to compete in the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, she took some time off from her sport to start a family with her husband, Janson Pace. She made it to the Winter Olympics in 2010, but placed fourth, narrowly missing a medal. She announced her retirement from the sport and gave her daughter, Lacee, now 6, a brother, Traycen, now 2. When she was 18 weeks pregnant with her third child, she lost the baby. The devastating miscarriage prompted her partner to urge her to return to her beloved skeleton racing. Photo by Getty Images.


And what a return she made. The 31-year-old Orem, UT, native picked up a silver medal in Sochi, finishing just over a second behind Britain's Lizzy Yarnold. Without batting an eye at the conclusion of her race, she headed to the stands to hug her kids and husband. Pikus-Pace, one of the "fastest moms on ice," spoke to WomansDay.com from Russia to reveal how she managed to nab a spot on the Olympic podium while being an all-star mom of two.

Related: Discover the best work-at-home jobs.


What's your number-one tip for balancing your time between training and raising your young children?

My family will always be my top priority. But knowing I have to get in my workouts and fulfill other obligations, at the beginning of each week I make a list of things that I have to get done. Sometimes I'm able to do everything, and sometimes I'm not. You can't stress over every little detail, and you just try to do the best you can. Give yourself a little pat on the back when you get it done and a little break when you can't.


How does being an Olympian make you a better parent?

It's taught me that you don't have to perfect. I made a lot of mistakes out there, and I still was able to come home with a silver medal. A lot of times we try hard to get things right, but we're really hard on ourselves. So just allow yourself to know you don't have to be perfect. It's the baby steps, the little goals that you hit along the way, that make the big differences.

Related: Learn how to raise a confident woman.


Did your parents instill this attitude in you as you were growing up?

Oh, absolutely. My parents helped me to have a great start right from the beginning. They encouraged me; they helped me to pursue whatever talents, whatever dreams, I wanted to. They were there cheering all along the way.

How did your parents cheer you up when you were feeling down?

They would always hug me and say that results don't matter. And that's probably what helped me with my optimism over the trials.

Do you hope that your children pursue athletics?

I just hope that they find their dream and talents. I hope that I can give them the great start that my parents gave me. That's all we can really ask for.


Related: The most winning Olympic beauty looks

What's your best piece of parenting advice?

Start out each day great. Wake up in the morning and tell yourself, "This is going to be a great day." And one of the best ways to do that is with a great breakfast to give yourself the energy you need. Some days are rough, some days aren't, and that's what I figured out here at the Olympics. Training wasn't as great as I wanted it to be. And then I was able to cross that finish line when it really counted on race day. And now I have a silver medal.

As part of Team Kellogg's, Pikus-Pace believes every child deserves a great start-beginning with breakfast. Yet about 20% of kids don't start each day with a meal. With Kellogg's Great Start program, every time you use the hashtag #greatstarts on Twitter, the company will help to provide a child in need with a breakfast.

You May Also Like:
Foods That Keep You Full Longer
8 Calming Foods That Ease Stress
11 Things That Mean More to Men Than "I Love You"
I Tried an Olympic Bobsledder's "Bulk Up" Workout