Olympian Alexa Knierim Is Pregnant, Anticipating First Youngster with Husband Chris

Olympic determine skating companions and real-life couple Chris and Alexa Knierim expect their first little one!

On Sunday, March 16, the previous American pair skaters introduced in a heartfelt Instagram submit that they’ve a son on the best way — and revealed that that they had utilized in vitro fertilization to assist them begin their household.

“Our child boy is 23 weeks alongside! We’re eagerly anticipating the joyful moments that await us. 🩵,” Alexa, 33, captioned the candy submit, which additionally featured the hashtag “#ivfbaby” and “#july,” teasing their son’s due date.

Within the Instagram photographs, the couple could possibly be seen standing on a seashore as they kissed and Alexa positioned her hand on her stomach. Chris, 37, wore a easy navy blue polo shirt and khaki quick combo, whereas Alexa confirmed off her rising bump in a white and blue floral costume — together with an Olympic emblem necklace to finish her maternity type.

The pair — who helped carry Workforce USA to a bronze medal within the determine skating crew occasion in PyeongChang in 2018 — first grew to become skating companions in 2012 and started courting only one month later.

Chris ultimately popped the query in 2014, and the couple tied the knot in June 2016 at a ceremony in Colorado Springs. Colo. — with their then-coach Dalilah Sappenfield officiating their nuptials, in keeping with NBC. Their ceremony was additionally attended by fellow Olympic skaters Ashley Wagner and Adam Rippon.

Quickly after, the Knierims went on to grow to be the primary married pair to compete on the Olympics since fellow Individuals Jenni Meno and Todd Sand went to Nagano in 1998. In 2018, they had been additionally the only real set of American pairs skaters competing in South Korea.

Though they retired from skating as companions in 2020, they gained two nationwide titles collectively and in addition served because the Olympic alternates in Sochi.

“We simply know all the pieces about one another, and I feel it helps within the day-to-day after we go to follow and after we compete,” Alexa instructed PEOPLE in 2018, opening up about their relationship as each a pair and as athletic companions. “We help one another and we sort of know what the opposite one wants in that second, and I feel that’s what pushes us ahead to be the nice crew that we’re.”

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Alexa has been candid about coping with a mysterious sickness that affected her within the lead as much as and after her marriage ceremony, and she or he was ultimately recognized with a uncommon, probably deadly gastrointestinal situation.

She underwent three surgical procedures and was left weighing simply 80 lbs. at one level she beforehand instructed PEOPLE.

“It was a tough yr, however it made us develop in methods I don’t suppose we might have if we didn’t undergo the traumatic expertise that we did,” Alexa mentioned in 2018.

Chris agreed on the time, including: “All the pieces that we went by, that helped strengthen our relationship collectively.”