British artistic gymnast Alice Kinsella is making history by becoming the first British woman to return to elite competition after giving birth. The 24-year-old, who won Olympic bronze at Tokyo 2020 and is a two-time European champion, had only "about three or four weeks off" after having her son Parker in the summer.
Kinsella's decision to return to training was made possible by her strong background in gymnastics, which allowed her to regain some strength quickly. However, she acknowledged that it may not have been possible if she had a caesarean section. The NHS advises that women should wait until after their six-week postnatal check before starting high-impact exercise.
Despite the challenges, Kinsella is making progress and hopes to be "back fully" by the end of 2026. Her training is being closely monitored by British Gymnastics senior conditioning coach Ben Young, who says she is "making huge gains" and could potentially become a pioneer for other gymnasts returning to elite sport after childbirth.
Kinsella's journey has been studied by researchers at the University of Kent, who are working on a paper titled 'Returning to sport postpartum: a case study of an elite gymnast'. The research aims to present a successful example of a holistic approach to returning to elite sport and may provide valuable insights for other athletes and practitioners.
As Kinsella navigates her return to competition, she is also navigating the challenges of motherhood. She has been relying on childcare support from her partner and mother, and is grabbing naps whenever possible. Despite the fatigue, Kinsella remains positive about her progress and hopes to inspire other women to pursue their athletic goals after having children.
Kinsella's achievement could have significant implications for women in sports who are returning to competition after childbirth. The lack of research on best practice for this return has led to a real need for more guidance and support. Kinsella's case study may provide valuable insights into the process, and her determination and perseverance serve as an inspiration to others.
Kinsella's decision to return to training was made possible by her strong background in gymnastics, which allowed her to regain some strength quickly. However, she acknowledged that it may not have been possible if she had a caesarean section. The NHS advises that women should wait until after their six-week postnatal check before starting high-impact exercise.
Despite the challenges, Kinsella is making progress and hopes to be "back fully" by the end of 2026. Her training is being closely monitored by British Gymnastics senior conditioning coach Ben Young, who says she is "making huge gains" and could potentially become a pioneer for other gymnasts returning to elite sport after childbirth.
Kinsella's journey has been studied by researchers at the University of Kent, who are working on a paper titled 'Returning to sport postpartum: a case study of an elite gymnast'. The research aims to present a successful example of a holistic approach to returning to elite sport and may provide valuable insights for other athletes and practitioners.
As Kinsella navigates her return to competition, she is also navigating the challenges of motherhood. She has been relying on childcare support from her partner and mother, and is grabbing naps whenever possible. Despite the fatigue, Kinsella remains positive about her progress and hopes to inspire other women to pursue their athletic goals after having children.
Kinsella's achievement could have significant implications for women in sports who are returning to competition after childbirth. The lack of research on best practice for this return has led to a real need for more guidance and support. Kinsella's case study may provide valuable insights into the process, and her determination and perseverance serve as an inspiration to others.
like alice kinsella has been through so much and still she's crushing it 
! i'm so inspired by her determination and positive attitude 
. its crazy that the NHS advises women to wait until after six weeks postnatal check before starting high-impact exercise, but alice's background in gymnastics really helped her regain some strength quickly 
. idk about caesarean sections though, thats a whole different story 
. anyway i hope she gets back fully by the end of 2026 and inspires other women to pursue their athletic goals after having kids 
She's such an inspiration! I was thinking about how it's crazy that some women can go back to training just a few weeks after having a baby, but then again, she's always been super fit and athletic. Like, I wouldn't be able to do half the things she's doing right now 
. I'm curious though, has anyone else done something like this before? Like, is it possible for other sports too? And how does childcare work out when you're training so much? My friend just had a baby and I feel bad for her because she can barely lift her head off the couch 
.
. And don't even get me started on the fact that the NHS says wait till after your 6-week check, what does that even mean for all the moms who can't just take a nap? It's like they're setting these women up to fail 
.
! I know it can't be easy balancing momhood and gymnastics, but she's making it work and that's all we can ask for 
. Can u imagine having to start from scratch? 
! We need more women like her inspiring others to chase their dreams, no matter what life throws at them 
!
She's getting back in the gym sooner than I thought she would. Still pretty impressive that she was able to get back on track after just 3-4 weeks off. Can't imagine how hard it must be to balance being a new mom and trying to regain fitness, though 
. I think it's so great that she's open about sharing her journey with us, it'll definitely help other women who want to get back into sports after having kids. The NHS guidelines are super helpful, and now we have a real-life example of what works for someone in her situation 
I love that she's being supported by her partner and mom too, that's just the best! 
can't wait to see her back in competition at the end of 2026! 
I'm all about female empowerment and Kinsella is the ultimate example of that - go, girl! 
That's so inspiring for all the new moms out there who wanna get back into sports. Did you know that the NHS says women should wait until after their six-week postnatal check before starting high-impact exercise? 
The stats on postpartum return to sport are low, like only 1% of elite female athletes return to competing within a year of giving birth! 
So Kinsella's journey is not just about her, it's about paving the way for others. 
I'm so proud of Alice Kinsella for making history in gymnastics after having a baby 
. It's amazing that she was able to get back into training so quickly, but also super important that we're talking about the challenges that come with it, especially with the NHS guidelines 
. We need more research and support around returning to sport postpartum 
The risk of injury is so high right now, especially with a newborn at home. And what about the pressure to perform? It's one thing when you're not pregnant, but it's a whole different story now. I'm not saying she can't do it, but...I don't know, man 
. Every woman who wants to get back into sports after having kids deserves some guidance and support. Kinsella's determination is super inspiring, and I'm rooting for her all the way 
!
I'm so hyped for Alice Kinsella! Like, she's not just crushing it back in gymnastics, but also killing it as a mom 
. I'm loving how positive she remains despite the challenges of being a new mom 
. Still, it's awesome that she's pushing forward and making progress!