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Jana Pittman is no stranger to success. A two-time world champion and four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, she’s also made history as the first Australian woman to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. But her journey isn’t defined by medals alone. This is her story. Since the age of 16, Jana has lived with incontinence. Despite the fact that incontinence affects 4.8 million women living in Australia, it is often left unspoken about. Today, Jana is using her platform to shine a light on incontinence, sharing her personal experience and encouraging others to seek support.
First Signs of Incontinence
For elite athlete Jana Pittman, success came early, but so did a lesser-known struggle, urinary incontinence. “When I was a young athlete, one of the most challenging things I ever experienced was incontinence,” Jana tells Bridge Magazine. She first began noticing signs of bladder leakage during the early years of her sporting career. “Even before having children, I experienced leakage during intense training sessions or if I sneezed,” Jana recalls. At the time, she assumed it was simply part of the pressure elite athletes place on their bodies. “I initially thought it was a normal part of being an athlete pushing my limits. It wasn’t until after the birth of my first child that the problem intensified.” Jana became a mother at 22 and wasted no time returning to competition. “For months and months, I pushed my body through training,” she says.
Despite holding one of the most prestigious titles in sport, Jana was quietly battling incontinence alone.
She admits it wasn’t uncommon for her to leak wee in the final 100 metres of a race, but kept the symptoms to herself. “I didn’t tell anyone, not my sports doctor, not even my beautiful mum. I was so embarrassed.” While competing on the world stage, Jana developed creative ways to ‘self-manage’ her incontinence. Before major races, she would pour a full bottle of water over herself to mask any signs of leakage, and she often avoided post-race interviews altogether. Her experience is far from rare. In fact, 1 in 4 people living in Australia experience some form of bladder or bowel control issue. Women are particularly at risk, with factors such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause increasing the likelihood of incontinence. Though incontinence is common, it is not something you have to live with. No matter your age or stage of life, symptoms can often be treated, better managed, or even cured.
Seeking Help
For years, Jana managed her incontinence in silence. But everything began to change when she decided to seek professional help. A turning point came when Jana started working with a physiotherapist who specialised in postpartum care. With expert support and guidance, she began retraining her pelvic floor muscles and learning how to better understand the connection between her bladder and pelvic health. The results were life-changing. Now, after having her sixth child, Jana enjoys the freedom to jump on the trampoline and go for a run, without constantly worrying about bladder leaks. Seeing how far she’s come, Jana is now passionate about spreading the word. She encourages others facing similar challenges to seek help and reminds them that recovery is possible with the right support.
Raising Awareness About Incontinence
Jana Pittman’s moment to raise awareness came when she appeared on the hit television show SAS Australia. Known for its intense physical challenges, the show pushed contestants to their physical and emotional limits, something Jana was well prepared for, but with one major concern. “When SAS came along, I knew. I knew I was going to wee myself on national television,” she says. The show involved gruelling tasks, 5km runs, burpees, squats and jumps, all known triggers for bladder leakage. During one particularly tough challenge, Jana felt her body fatiguing and lost control of her bladder. She turned to a fellow contestant and admitted, “I just pissed myself on that run.” Though nervous about how viewers would respond to such a vulnerable moment, the reaction took her by surprise. “It was incredible, all of these positive conversations about women’s health and incontinence, that came out of one embarrassing moment for me.” Jana received thousands of supportive messages from both women and men, proving how widespread and under-discussed this issue really is. “We need to talk openly about incontinence and seek help. Leakage is manageable with the right support, and sharing our stories can make a significant difference.”
With courage and honesty, Jana is helping to shine a light on incontinence and empower others to take control of their health. Today, Jana is also working as a junior doctor, specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology. Her unique combination of medical training and personal experience with incontinence puts her in a powerful position to advocate for better awareness and support around continence health, for women of all ages.