Gabby Logan has revealed her promising showjumper daughter Lois has been diagnosed with a chronic health condition that could stop her competing in ‘excessive’ athletic events.
The Match of the Day host, 52, mentioned this week that Lois, 20, has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) however admitted she felt a sense of reduction when a specialist suggested her daughter in opposition to excessive sports activities.
PCOS is among the commonest hormonal issues affecting girls of reproductive age, impacting between eight and 13 per cent of girls worldwide.
It causes a vary of signs together with irregular or absent durations, extreme facial and physique hair, zits, weight achieve and fertility challenges.
Speaking on her Mid-Point podcast on Wednesday, Gabby mentioned: ‘Lois was not too long ago – she will not thoughts me saying this – diagnosed with PCOS,’
She continued: ‘And after we went to see the specialist, she mentioned, “Really, you know, extreme running’s not great for you, Lois.”‘
Gabby Logan has revealed her promising showjumper daughter Lois has been diagnosed with a chronic health condition that could stop her competing in ‘excessive’ athletic events (Gabby pictured 2024)
The Match of the Day host, 52, mentioned this week that Lois, 20, has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) however admitted she felt a sense of reduction when a specialist suggested her daughter in opposition to excessive sports activities (each pictured 2024)
Gabby and Lois memorably ran the London Landmarks Half-Marathon collectively in April 2024, a problem the previous Olympic gymnast described as ‘psychological’ because of the degree of coaching required.
While she loved the expertise total, she admitted she was relieved she would not need to repeat it after listening to the physician’s recommendation. ‘I simply went, “Yes!”‘ she recalled.
The mother-of-two defined that sadly Lois had dreamed of tackling one other half marathon collectively, however they’ve now been compelled to reduce their ambitions.
Gabby revealed: ‘She did truly wish to do one other half-marathon with me, however then she mentioned, perhaps we should always simply do some 5Ks collectively, mum. But [the half marathon] was such a pretty expertise.’
The NHS describes PCOS as a chronic condition characterised by elevated ranges of insulin and androgens – male-type hormones – in the physique.
Many girls with PCOS additionally expertise insulin resistance, placing them at greater threat of creating sort 2 diabetes and heart problems.
While train is usually beneficial for managing PCOS signs, some medical specialists advise sufferers to be cautious about extreme high-intensity exercises, with analysis suggesting that an excessive amount of intense train can enhance cortisol ranges – the stress hormone – which can worsen signs in some circumstances.
Instead, moderate-intensity actions like brisk strolling, mixed with energy coaching, are sometimes thought of extra helpful.
Speaking on her Mid-Point podcast on Wednesday, Gabby mentioned: ‘Lois was not too long ago – she will not thoughts me saying this – diagnosed with PCOS, and after we went to see the specialist, she mentioned, “Really, you know, extreme running’s not great for you, Lois” (pictured 2021)
Showjumper Lois – the dual daughter of Gabby and former Scotland rugby worldwide Kenny Logan, 52 – has been driving since she was eight years outdated.
At simply 16, she certified for the distinguished Horse Of The Year Show and gained two lessons on the British Showjumping National Championships in 2022.
Despite her mom’s hopes that she would change into a tennis star, Lois fell in love with horses after the household moved to their Buckinghamshire house a decade in the past.
‘My mum wished me to be a tennis participant. She was like: “I really, really tried, but you didn’t want to,”‘ Lois has mentioned beforehand. ‘Now I say to her: “I wish you’d pushed me harder to do tennis, because I could have been a really good player by now.”‘
The geography pupil at Loughborough University has continued competing at excessive ranges in showjumping, even taking up the problem of the Markel Magnolia Cup at Goodwood in July 2025 – a prestigious charity race the place showjumpers change into jockeys for the day.
Lois described that expertise as ‘brutal’, telling the journal: ‘I’ve at all times been a very sporty particular person, however I’ve by no means executed something as brutal as this. It’s been powerful.’
The April 2024 half-marathon marked Gabby’s return to long-distance working after 20 years, working in help of Muscular Dystrophy UK, a charity the place she serves as president.
The BBC star persuaded Lois to affix her for the problem, with each crossing the end line collectively.
While Gabby discovered the expertise demanding, she mentioned she was grateful for the mother-daughter bonding expertise.
Aside from competing in marathons, showjumper Lois – the dual daughter of Gabby and former Scotland rugby worldwide Kenny Logan, 52 – has been driving since she was eight years outdated (Lois pictured with her brother Reuben and fogeys Gabby and Kenny final 12 months)
She informed Hello! final October: ‘It was so exhausting becoming all of the coaching, I bear in mind getting back from the Six Nations match in Edinburgh, and it was too darkish to run outdoors, so I needed to do 18k on a treadmill. That was a psychological train!
‘But after we did it, it felt so pretty, doing it with her. It was powerful, however once more it felt like filling up that pool that wants nourishing.
‘I feel function is a actually vital and vital issue in happiness. If you lose that in midlife, you can begin to lose your manner.’
Gabby, who represented Wales in rhythmic gymnastics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, married Kenny on July 19, 2001. The couple welcomed Lois and Reuben in 2005 through IVF.
Their son Reuben has adopted in his father’s footsteps, taking part in skilled rugby as a back-row participant for Northampton Saints, making his skilled debut in September 2023.
