OLYMPIAN mum Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne has opened up on her battle to win a seat at the 2024 Paris Games, after being officially named in the Team GB crew list at Kew Gardens beside the River Thames.

Selection is a remarkable achievement for the 29-year-old from St Weonards, having given birth to son Freddie in 2022 a year after racing at the Tokyo Olympics, and then battling her way back into the squad this year.

And she revealed how she was still doing light training 40 weeks into her pregnancy to keep her dream of a second Games alive.

Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne, right, and crew mate Becky Wilde racing in Switzerland
Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne, right, and crew mate Becky Wilde racing in Switzerland (British Rowing)

Then fighting her way back on board the GB team while balancing the demands of motherhood and exhausting workouts, she was selected for the double scull with Beccy Wilde for the last chance qualifying 'Regatta of Death' in Switzerland last month, where they grabbed the last place in Paris finishing second.

Lifting the lid on her struggle to get there, she told Sportsbeat how she kept fit while expecting, doing an hour of low-level cardio a day.

And set to become the second mum to row in the Olympics for GB alongside two-time gold medallist and mother-of-three Helen Glover, Mathilda said: "When I became pregnant, it changed my outlook. I don't think having a baby should be the end of your career.

"My identity is obviously being a mum, but it's also an athlete. I'm definitely a better mum for rowing, and I'm a much better athlete because of Freddie.

Mathilda, right, and Becky, left, are on their way to Paris
Mathilda, right, and Becky, left, are on their way to Paris (British Rowing/World Rowing)

"It's hard. Your recovery is terrible at times, but you never get stuck in the stress bubble," added Mathilda, who raced alongside sister Charlotte in the GB quadruple scull in Tokyo, winning the B final for seventh.

And with British Rowing soon to publish a maternity policy, Mathilda says: "The sport has changed hugely. I'm proud to be part of a team that makes it possible.

Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne receives her trophy with son Freddie
Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne with son Freddie at a regatta last year (Metropolitan Regatta)

"Helen and I have both shown it is – we've had different journeys, her children are older - but Freddie has come on all three training camps with me. He's been staying in the hotel with me and there's some flexibility now with childcare.

"It's a huge step. If this keeps more girls in rowing and encourages more people to stay in the sport, that's literally all I wanted from this journey."

And on winning through the "unique pressure-cooker" qualifyer in Lucerne, she said: "This is your last chance, there's no other option... had we not qualified, I'd have been gutted, but I'd have been more sad not to have been back in this boat. It's great, and I really enjoy being part of it."