Former Kenya Lionesses international Sinaida Aura has described motherhood as the most rewarding chapter of her life. The speedster admitted that while it has brought its fair share of challenges, nothing compares to the joy of watching her three-month-old daughter grow each day.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsSpeaking to Mozzart Sport during the Kabeberi 7s over the weekend, Aura, who recently welcomed her first child, explained that motherhood has tested her in ways rugby never did, but insisted the experience has been worth every sleepless night."I think motherhood has been the greatest challenge I've faced since my playing career, but it has also been the most beautiful. The rewards are incredible," Aura said.The retired player, who made history as the first Kenya Lioness to turn professional when she joined Beantown RFC in the United States, has embraced her new role with the same resilience that defined her rugby career. ##NAJAVA_MECA_9907075##Before beginning her motherhood journey, she also served as team manager at Nondies RFC.She noted that the simple moments of seeing her daughter develop have become the highlights of her days."Motherhood is beautiful. Watching my daughter grow and become a different little person every day is amazing. She's literally not the same baby she was yesterday, and seeing those little changes has been such a special experience,” she offered.Despite the joy, Aura admitted that the transition has not been easy, with sleep deprivation proving to be the toughest obstacle."The biggest challenge has definitely been the lack of sleep. Pregnancy also takes a toll on your body, and recovering from that has been tough. I'm only now starting to feel like myself again and getting my body back,” she said.Returning to fitness has presented another mental hurdle.Floyd Wabwire named in star-studded squad for prestigious USA tournamentA regular gym-goer before pregnancy, Aura stepped away from training for about 10 months. While her athletic background has helped her regain strength, adjusting to the process has required patience."I was going to the gym before pregnancy, but I took about 10 months away. Physically, getting back hasn't been too difficult because of muscle memory, but mentally it's been challenging. It's very humbling to go back to doing bodyweight exercises when you're used to lifting heavy weights,” she said.Even with the struggles, Aura noted that every stage of raising her daughter has been memorable."Everything about motherhood has been my favourite, except the lack of sleep. Watching her grow, seeing her discover the world, learning her different cries, changing diapers… honestly, every little moment has been special,” she said.Why NYS Spades coach was emotional after securing Division One promotionHaving balanced elite sport with life's changing seasons, Aura has urged young women not to feel pressured into motherhood before they are ready."Girls, don't rush into motherhood. Take your time and get to know yourself first because I believe that makes the journey much easier. Work on becoming financially, mentally, physically, and emotionally stable. Of course, the emotional side can still be difficult because of the hormones, so you have to be resilient.When the time is right, embrace motherhood. But if you have opportunities in sport or outside of it, pursue them, build your career, and don't feel pressured. Motherhood will come at the right time,” she advised.Aura's own sporting journey was anything but conventional.Before discovering rugby, basketball was her first love at Railways Club. Amonde reveals what drove KCB’s turnaround from Dala disappointment to Kabeberi gloryDuring one training session, she spotted a group of women undergoing an intense rugby workout nearby. Curious, she joined them for a session, unknowingly taking the first steps towards what would become an illustrious career.Her introduction to the sport, however, was far from smooth. A heavy collision during a trial at Kenya Harlequin convinced her to look elsewhere, eventually leading her to Mwamba Rugby Club before later joining Northern Suburbs, where she made her competitive debut during the 2015 Nax 10s tournament.Her career suffered an emotional setback in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grieving the loss of a close friend amid the uncertainty of lockdown, Aura announced her retirement in an emotional decision.But rugby was not done with her.She later returned to the technical bench before asking for another opportunity to play, and her teammates welcomed her back. South Coast Pirates appoint English coach ahead of 2026/27 Kenya Cup campaignIn 2021, she completed an inspiring return to the field, showcasing the resilience that had become synonymous with her career.The pinnacle of that journey came at the delayed Tokyo Olympics, where she represented Kenya on the biggest stage.The Lionesses finished 10th overall after facing eventual champions New Zealand, the Russian Olympic Committee and Great Britain in the pool stages. They bounced back to defeat hosts Japan 21-17 in the ninth-place semifinal before eventually losing 24-10 to Canada in the placement final.