Former Matildas star Lydia Williams welcomes her first baby
By Amy Lyall|
Aussie soccer star Lydia Williams is a mum.?
The 37-year-old former Matilas player shared the beautiful news on social media on Sunday, announcing that she and her partner's bub had arrived.?
"Welcome to the world," the caption read alongside some gorgeous shots of their little one and Williams before she gave birth.?
"Coen Ronald Anne Williams," the caption continued.?
The notoriously private athlete did not share the baby's gender. The name Coen means "thunder" for some Indigenous Australians, and it's also a masculine Dutch name.
The post was flooded with comments from her former Matildas teammates and fellow athletes who were overjoyed with the news.?
"Congratulations to you and your family Lydia! Welcome to the world, little baby Coen," commented the official Matildas account.?
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"So cute Lyds ? congrats to you both!!!" wrote Mackenzie Arnold.?
Katrina Gorry commented "congratulations," adding plenty of heart-eye emojis too.?
Sam Kerr, Allana Kennedy and more also shared their well wishes for the couple on the safe arrival of baby Coen.?
Williams announced she was pregnant in August last year.?
Sharing the news on Instagram, she posted a photo of her dog Caviar with ultrasound photos taped to his collar, with the caption: "Incoming! Caviar has some news. Human sibling coming soon."?
The pregnancy announcement came just over a year after she hung up her boots and officially retired from the Matildas.?
The goalkeeper also played for Melbourne Victory and is a proud Indigenous woman, sharing her passion for the sport and a role model for younger generations.?
As she left the field for the last time during her final match the athlete received a standing ovation from the crowd of over 76,000 at Sydney's Accor Stadium.
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But there was an emotional moment for Williams when fellow sporting great ?Evonne Goolagong Cawley presented her with a traditional Booka cloak before the match.
The Booka was made from the skins of four kangaroos, symbolising her totem and featured panels representing her childhood and career, along with a nod to her late father and was created by an artist, who worked in secret with Williams' mum.
Williams admitted the special moment was a "humbling" one too.
"To receive that gift from Evonne was just incredible and I think that was probably the moment that tipped me over emotionally," Williams said.
"I don't know if it's like, game recognises game. It was a lovely moment.?"
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