Olympian's sister says win sends positive message

Team GB's Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne (left) and Rebecca Wilde (right) won bronze in the Women's Rowing Double Sculls

The sister of Olympic rower Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne said her bronze medal win in the women's doubles sculls is proof "you can be a fantastic mother and have an Olympic career."

Charlotte Hodgkins Byrne cheered her sister on from the stands in Paris as she competed in her first Olympic games since taking time off to have her son.

The Team GB rower, from Hereford, previously said she felt "pushed to the side" when she tried to return to the sport.

Charlotte said she thought her sister wanted to show she could come back "better than what she was before, despite having a child."

Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne rowed at the Tokyo Olympics and gave birth in 2022.

In 2023 she told the Women's and Equalities Committee she delayed telling GB Rowing she was pregnant over concerns she would lose funding.

Charlotte said despite Mathilda's extreme determination to return the sport she loved, there were moments she doubted it would be possible.

"It was always a concern for her, she's always very harsh on herself."

"It was a huge ask, she had to turn around coming back from maternity leave in a very short space of time but it worked."

Although the road to the 2024 games had been a "rollercoaster" Charlotte said she was proud of how far her big sister had come and the positive message it would send to others.