Carien Kleibeuker of the Netherlands competes during the Women's 5000m Speed Skating

Ireen Wüst was confirmed as queen of the speed skating events at Sochi 2014, claiming two golds and three silvers, leading another incredible showing by Dutch skaters at the Adler Arena, which also saw Jorien ter Mor’s audacious switch from short track to long track rewarded with a gold in the 1,500m and a new Olympic record. The Dutch didn’t have it all their own way: Korean Lee Sang-Hwa underlined her status as the fastest female skater over 500m, retaining her title in record-breaking style, while Martina Sablikova secured another 1,500m title. Meanwhile the biggest surprise of the programme came from Zhang Hong of China, who stunned the favourites to clinch gold in the 1,000m.

The latest edition of the Olympic Winter Games produced some astonishing performances from women athletes, including a number who now manage to combine top-level competition with parenthood. We pay tribute to four mums who came away from Sochi 2014 with a medal.

Whether they are a new generation of young female athletes, such as 17-year-old ski jumper Sara Takanashi, or are Olympic veterans, like Canadian ice-hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser, women at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games are breaking records, making history and imposing themselves both on the field of play and in sports administration.

Czech skater Martina Sablikova kept the Netherlands’ Ireen Wüst at bay to retain the women’s 5,000m speed skating title at the Adler Arena

Masako Hozumi of Japan and Carien Kleibeuker of the Netherlands compete during the Women's 5000m Speed Skating event

(L-R) Silver medalist Ireen Wust of the Netherlands, gold medalist Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic and bronze medalist Carien Kleibeuker of the Netherlands celebrate on the podium during the flower ceremony for the Speed Skating Women's 5000m