Olympic gymnast Alice Kinsella says it is "hard to put into words" how she feels about returning to international competition as her groundbreaking comeback continues this weekend. The two-time European champion became the first British artistic gymnast to resume elite competition after giving birth, finishing fourth on beam at the British Championships in March.

Now the 25-year-old prepares for her first competition back in Great Britain 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."

Kinsella's pioneering journey became the subject of a university research paper into elite gymnasts resuming careers after giving birth. Her son Parker, born in September 2025, will watch his mum compete in all four pieces of apparatus for the first time. She trains with Park Wrekin Gymnastics Club in Shropshire.

After taking "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.