Koen was an athlete,but she was also a conventional wife and mothetof the time.She kept the house clean,did the cooking,and took care of her children.She did all of this while training.Her husband supported her athletic career.Many people,however,felt that a married mother should not compete in sports.When Koen decided to leave her children behind and go to London to compete in the 1948 Olympics,many people even in her own country were outraged.