Team GB return 'hard to put into words' - Kinsella

Olympic gymnast Alice Kinsella says “it’s hard to put into words” how she feels about returning to international competition as her groundbreaking comeback to the sport continues this weekend.

The two-time European champion became the first British artistic gymnast to resume elite competition after giving birth, when she finished fourth in the beam at the British Championships in March.

Now the 25-year-old is preparing for her first competition back in Team GB colours at a senior team international against France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy at Fenton Manor in Stoke on 12-13 September.

“It’s kind of crazy – it’s such a surreal feeling but I am very excited,” Kinsella told BBC Radio Stoke.

“It’s only been a year, postpartum. Training-wise, it’s been tough, but it’s been good. I’m excited to finally get out there. I’m ready, I’m doing everything I can to get back where I was.

“It’s been a rollercoaster but a good one.”

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

Her son Parker, who was born in September 2025, is already a source of inspiration and he will be watching his mum compete at the weekend as Kinsella competes in all four pieces of apparatus – balance beam, bars, vault and floor – for the first time.

“It’s really special because I’ve wanted to try to get back into a team and this is a really good start because it’s a little four-way,” Kinsella, who trains with Park Wrekin Gymnastics Club in Shropshire, said.

“It’s not too big of a competition which is really good. I’m definitely nervous, but it’s hard to put into words – it’s been so long.

“I did the British [Championships] in March but only did beam and that’s all I was training really but now I’m trying to do all four so it’s more on the body.

“It’s not like you’ve done one piece and you can stop thinking about everything, you’ve got to move on to the next and think about that. So it’s been tough.”

Alice Kinsella won gold at the European Championships in 2019 and 2023 [Getty Images]

After revealing she only took “three or four weeks off” after giving birth, Kinsella returned to training at the start of the year with the longer-term intention of being at the World Championships in China in 2027 and the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

But, after finding herself ahead of schedule so far this year, she wanted to take the chance to step it up.

“My main goal was to try to get back next year but I’m actually a lot further forward than I thought I would be,” added Kinsella, who won bronze in the team event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

“So that’s why I’m doing this competition because I just want to get out there, compete, because I don’t like doing nothing.”

What makes Kinsella’s return so unique are the obvious challenges – and changes to the body – pregnancy and childbirth brings.

There are many examples of women returning to the top of their sports after becoming mothers but gymnastics, where vital pelvic floor and core strength are both weakened during pregnancy, is different.

Kinsella said her gymnastics background has played a big part in her being able to return to physical exercise so quickly but said she “didn’t feel too bad” when she got back in the gym.

“I always had that goal to get back into the gym and I think when I’ve got a goal set I will do everything I can to achieve it,” she said.

“Getting back into a leotard with how my body’s changed just feels very weird but I guess that shows what my body has gone through and I try to think about it in a positive way.”

Her body is not the only thing that has changed with Kinsella adding that parenthood has helped her become better at taking the pressure off herself as an athlete.

“Having a baby changes your life – I’m very patient, whereas before Parker I was not patient at all,” she said.

“When I made one tiny mistake I would get so annoyed, but now if I just make like a little mistake I’m totally fine about it.

“You have to be patient with kids, they’re crazy. So I’ve definitely changed in that aspect but style-wise and gymnastics-wise like I don’t think that’s changed.

“Things are harder to get back and to do but I think the more I train it’ll probably feel a lot easier.”

Kinsella said when she started her comeback “no one really had any idea what I was going to able to do” and wants to keep levels of expectation for her international return as realistic as possible.

For her, this weekend in Stoke is there primarily “just to enjoy it” and to “get the experience of all four pieces [of apparatus] again”.

“My body’s changed, I can’t do the same amount of training I used to do but I’m definitely getting back to that,” Kinsella said.

“We’re definitely on the right track to be where I was before I had Parker. My goal was to start competing next year properly on all four.

“It’s going to be really fun. Whatever happens, happens, good, bad. I’m just proud I’m able to be back out there a year postpartum.”