'For my boy' - Kinsella makes GB gymnastics history

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Kinsella has competed at two Olympics, including the 2024 Paris Games

ByMandeep SangheraBBC Sport journalist

Published44 minutes ago

Alice Kinsella said she was "doing it for her little boy" after she became the first British artistic gymnast to resume elite competition after giving birth.

The 25-year-old, whose son Parker was born last September, returned to action at the British Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the weekend, finishing fourth in the final of the beam.

Kinsella, who took only "three or four weeks off" after giving birth, said: "I'm absolutely shattered but I'm really happy."

"I kind of expected just to do [Saturday] but, making the final was nice.

"I am doing it for my little boy, so being able to finish and look up to him in the crowd is an amazing feeling."

Kinsella's journey back to the sport is so rare it has become the subject of a university research paper into elite gymnasts resuming their careers after giving birth.

While there are many examples of mums returning to the top of their sports, this is not the case in gymnastics, where pelvic floor and core strength - both weakened during pregnancy - are so vital.

"It's nice to be back out on the floor," said Kinsella, a bronze-medal winner in the team event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

"I was nervous [on Saturday], I thought I was going to bomb it but [Sunday] wasn't so bad.

"I was excited. I wasn't nervous at all, I just wanted to get on and off.

"It's been nice on the body to just do three days a week. It's not enough to feel super confident but I'm starting somewhere.

"After this, I'm upping it to four so we'll just see how it goes."

NHS advice says "if you had a straightforward birth, you can start gentle exercise as soon as you feel up to it" but that "it's usually a good idea to wait until after your six-week postnatal check before you start any high-impact exercise".

It adds: "If you exercised regularly before giving birth and you feel fit and well, you may be able to start earlier. Talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP."