An Olympic snowboarding champion is hitting back at online trolls after posting an “insane” photo of her breastfeeding her son while doing a headstand.
Australia’s most successful winter Olympian, Torah Bright, stunned people on Instagram on Sunday when she uploaded the topless image of her doing a headstand on a lawn while her 10-month-old gets a feed.
The photo sparked online debate with Torah saying she felt “sad” by some of the disgruntled comments posted.
She wrote alongside the picture: “Becoming a mother has unleashed something inside of me. It’s deeply spiritual.
“It’s primal. It’s raw. it’s fierce. It is pure.”
(Image: torahbright//Instagram)
Celebrating her first Mother’s Day with her son, Flow, she posted a series of pictures of them both – including one showing her breastfeeding him while in a handstand position.
The Winter Olympian, who earned a gold and silver medal in the snowboard halfpipe, added in the captions: “My prayer for all mothers, now and in the future is that they be heard. Honoured.
“Respected and encouraged to trust their intuition.”
Australian magazine Body and Soul said it was “absolutely obsessed” with the picture and praised her for being a “wonder woman”, however many criticised her for “seeing how he latched on for likes.”
(Image: torahbright//Instagram)
One person wrote in reply to seeing the image: “Not quite sure how to express my unease with this.”
Another wrote: “I just don’t get the need to seek attention and post photos of everything you do. I just don’t get it.”
Another added, “My first question is – why?? Sure I get it’s natural & a beautiful thing – but I don’t post my first bowel movement of the day standing on 1 leg. Same thing?”
Despite some even labelling her as “irresponsible” for sharing the snap, others congratulated her, such as one commenter saying: “What an awesome mama bear. Love her.”
(Image: torahbright//Instagram)
“What’s insane about it? She’s in incredible shape and is not putting her child in danger,” one supporter added.
“Positive Human, Olympian, Wife & Mother. Ignore the trolls. OMG. Focus on happiness and love. @TorahBright,” another chimed in.
Bright retaliated at the cruel comments, after admitting reading them “made her sad”.
“In my world, mothers should be each other’s cheer leaders (it’s hard enough). Embrace our quirkiness and finding the joy in every sh***y thing that is motherhood,” she wrote on her Instagram story.
(Image: torahbright//Instagram)
“We all do it differently. It is not wrong or right. Motherhood is pure. I only now consider myself a Wonder Woman because I have joined the sacred mothers club with you. Nothing but respect to all mothers.”
Bright reminded her followers she was not “looking for praise,” instead proudly saying she “walks this earth to the beat of my own drum, led by my nutrition and search for love and joy … obviously.”
She also related to a quote from Mary Poppins that reads: “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and snap, the job’s a game.”
“Growing up with this as one of my favourite mantras… no wonder I play around with the jobs of motherhood, all in the name of fun,” Bright wrote.
The renowned Olympic athlete shares Flow with her husband, fellow snowboarder Angus Thomson.
She is Australia’s most successful athlete in Winter Olympic history.