(Melissa Lagano)
Weeks before the arrival of her first child, ESPN Deportes and ESPN International commentator Carolina Guillén knew that while she would revel in motherhood, she also would hit the ground running upon returning to the airwaves. She also might be nurturing a future sports journalist in the process.
On May 26 at Harford (Conn.) Hospital, Guillén and her husband Luis Eduardo Fernandez had their first baby, Mia Fernandez Guillén. Family and friends say Mia looks like her dad but with her mom’s eyes.
Only two weeks after giving birth, Guillén continued her radio show, Zona ESPN from her Connecticut home before returning to the Deportes studios for Béisbol Esta Noche and #Redes this past week. In addition, she will be part of Deportes’ tennis coverage of the 2014 U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 25.
(Melissa Lagano)
Front Row asked about her new role as a mother and her transition back to work – perhaps with Mia.
How has becoming a mother changed your routine? Do you still wake up at 5:00 a.m. to work out?
I’m still waking up at 5 a.m., some days even earlier, but not necessarily to go to the gym but to feed my baby! Sacrificing my workout time for my daughter is totally fine with me. Besides, I’m breast-feeding and therefore, burning around 500 calories a day!
How was your first day back in the studio?
I was very nervous, like 10 years ago when I first joined ESPN. But as soon as the producer said “on air,” everything flowed as usual.
Who watches Mia while you are at work?
For now, she has a nanny, but she’ll enter the ESPN KidsCenter [in Bristol, Conn.] when she turns six months.
What do you find more challenging now, being a mom or your job?
Both roles are very challenging. The only difference is that I have more than 15 years of experience in journalism, but I am a rookie in my new role as a mom!
The US Open is around the corner. Are you taking the baby with you?
Of course, I already asked for a larger hotel room, a nursing mom room in Arthur Ashe [Stadium] and a credential for Mia! Ha!
