Congratulations are in order for Matildas star Katrina Gorry and her fiancee Clara Markstedt after the couple revealed they are expecting their first child together.
The new arrival will be Gorry’s second child after she gave birth to her daughter Harper in 2021 and returned to the Matildas the following year.
Harper was born after the Matildas’ midfield dynamo undertook IVF in Europe as a solo parent in 2020.
Gorry has said previously that the time felt right to become a mother when the coronavirus pandemic forced the Tokyo Olympics to be postponed by 12 months to July 2021.
Gorry and Markstedt met later, as teammates, when the Australian moved with Harper to Sweden to play for Vittsjo in 2022.
Their friendship blossomed into a relationship and the young family is now excited to welcome its newest member next year.
“Adding more love to our love story,” the couple said this week to announce the impending arrival of their new addition.
The words were accompanied by a photo of Harper holding the ultrasound photos and donning a ‘big sister duties’ T-shirt. The family dog wore a ‘big brother’ bandana.
The announcement sparked a flurry of congratulations from their excited teammates.
“So much love for the three of you,” Kyra Cooney-Cross wrote.
“Charli Grant and I are going to be the best aunties.”
Kyah Simon said: “Omg congrats.”
Michelle Heyman said: “I’m so excited for you all! Harper is going to be the most incredible big sister. Congratulations, my favourites.”
The pregnancy news came after Markstedt, 34, confirmed her retirement last month.
While she did not give a reason at the time, the baby news serves as a happy update.
Markstedt proposed to Gorry in June this year as the Matildas midfield jet prepared for the Women’s World Cup in Australia.
With the stunning beachside Swedish town, Falkenberg, as the backdrop, the scene was as stunning as a marriage propsosal could be with Markstedt pulling out all the stops to make sure the day was extra special.
There was a picnic with a lavish spread, card games and a touching video of their past year together.
Markstedt even got down on one knee.
The pair announced their engagement on social media, with Gorry captioning it, “The best love stories never end,” as they showed off their stunning engagement rings, which had a touching hidden detail.
Markstedt had transformed her grandmother’s diamond rings into bands – a Swedish tradition.
The pregnancy announcement adds a new layer to where Gorry will move next and eventually settle down.
Gorry followed Markstedt’s retirement announcement by confirming she would be leaving Vittsjo, raising questions around where the 31-year-old would ply her trade for the rest of the season.
“To my Vittsjo family, THANK YOU. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, for welcoming us with open arms and for taking care of our little girl,” Gorry wrote in her farewell letter.
“Thank you to our incredible supporters, to my team, to our coaching staff and most of all our incredible nannies.
“This has become our home for the last two years but it’s time to say goodbye and set off on a new adventure. I came here with a six-month-old and I’m leaving with a bilingual two-year-old, a beautiful fiancee and people that will hold a place in our hearts forever.”
Matildas teammate Charli Grant, a close friend to Gorry, Markstedt and Harper, also announced her departure from Vittsjo this month.
