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Vitality Roses legend Chelsea Pitman spoke with Sky Sports on why her decision to call time on a stellar international netball career was fuelled by a dream to become a mother, and how she hopes talking openly about her fertility issues might inspire other athletes to do the same

Chelsea Pitman has spoken candidly about her fertility issues before. The England legend had no qualms about retelling her story after announcing her retirement last week in an attempt to get other athletes to do the same.

The 35-year-old featured in her country’s first netball World Cup final match in Cape Town earlier this year, when England were beaten 61-45 by Australia.

A month later, she has now walked away from the international game to delve deeper into her issues and work on shifting the narrative around taboo topics surrounding pregnancy and reproduction.

“I think I’ve been honest that I’ve had two ectopic pregnancies and two miscarriages,” the former England goal attacker said on Sky Sports.

“My body has been my office for so long, and I lead an extremely healthy lifestyle. So, for me to encounter such difficulties time and again was quite a shock – and I live quite a physical lifestyle, too.

“I need to take this time to get more tests done, to look at the timeline of egg-freezing. That’s not a week, and there’s so much I still don’t know about my hormones. I hope my opening up and talking about it creates a safe space for other athletes and women to share their stories.

“I know I held it in for such a long time, and it wasn’t until I spoke about it and shared it [that] a weight was lifted off my shoulders, and I found myself in a community with many other women who go through the same thing.”

Pitman is open about the fact that her decision to retire, although a tough call to make, was partly fuelled by her dreams of becoming a mother.

“It was one of the most difficult decisions [I’ve ever made],” she said.

“I’d love to be able to say that I could play till I was 50, but just the landscape of where I am away from the netball court, I need to focus a little on that, and that sadly is due to age, and the commitment and sacrifice it takes to play for your country.

“We have our regular season, and then in our off-season, if you aren’t part of [an] international [team], you get to do what you want. But if you’re an international player, you’re giving up months of your life.

“At 35, I feel quite honest to say that looking down the fertility path, I want to be a mum. I need to make that sacrifice for me, for the future, knowing that I’ve achieved everything I’ve ever wanted to achieve”.

The next steps in her domestic playing career should help facilitate that.

She said: “I’m going to be playing in Australia in the Suncorp Super Netball League, but there’s a CPA (Collective Player Agreement) still not being signed, so contracts are not available for players to sign, which is quite frustrating.

“But it is the way it is at the moment, and I can’t let that stress me, so I’ve verbally agreed to a team – that’s as much as I can say, and I’m excited. I’m stepping away from the international stage, but I will still play elite netball.”

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England’s Chelsea Pitman has announced her retirement from international netball; 35-year-old says she wants address pregnancy issues after sharing her experience of miscarriage in 2020; Pitman said she was “grateful, thankful and absolutely honoured to call myself a Rose”

England’s Chelsea Pitman has announced her retirement from international netball.

The 35-year-old earned 52 caps for the Vitality Roses and featured in England’s first World Cup final match in Cape Town earlier this year, where England were beaten 61-45 by Australia.

Pitman says she wants to “delve a bit deeper” into pregnancy issues she has experienced in the past.

“I have made the extremely tough decision to retire from international netball,” Pitman said. “I never thought I’d be someone who chose to retire from the international stage, but it’s the right time for me.

“I haven’t been secretive with saying that I’ve tried to become a mum in the past and that I’ve had issues,” she added.

“I think it’s time that I delve a bit deeper into why my body failed me when it comes to that. I’m going to miss it, but you’ll still see me. I love you all.”

Pitman was born in Australia and played for The Diamonds in 2011, helping them win the Netball World Cup in Singapore before switching to England in 2017.

She also helped London Pulse to their first Grand Final in the Netball Super League this year where they were beaten by Loughborough Lightning 57-48.

Pitman said: “I look at my time as a Rose, and every other opportunity I’ve had to step out on the international stage as a netballer, and it has been the best time of my life. What an epic journey. What a rollercoaster and I wouldn’t change a single thing.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be able to call myself a Rose, for saying ‘yes, put me up for selection!’ because if I didn’t do that, how boring my life would have been, because I have made the best of friends, and I have made and created history. We achieved things that people thought were impossible for us.”

Vitality Roses Head Coach Jess Thirlby said it was an “absolute pleasure” to work with Pitman.

“She has not only inspired so many with her on-court flair, netball nous and competitive spirit, but I have such admiration and respect for her as a person.

“Chelsea wears her heart on her sleeve and her passion for the Roses and commitment to pull on the red dress is unquestionable. It not only means a lot to her, but we have been richer for having her as a Rose.”

Pitman discusses anguish of miscarriage

In 2021, Pitman spoke to Sky Sports about her miscarriage to build awareness.

“Being an athlete, my body is my job and usually, does what it is told to do (trained to do). But, one thing my body has failed at multiple times is pregnancy. I never ever thought this would be the case or realise how absolutely devastating every loss is.”

Read the full interview here…