Pentathlete returning to Olympics after year off

Kate French said there is "such tough competition" in the Team GB women's squad

A pentathlete who is returning to the Olympics after taking a year off said she "did not want to regret" not trying out for Paris 2024.

Kate French, who lives in Wiltshire but trains in Bath, said it had been "really challenging" getting back to top level after her break but that she was "really excited" to get to Paris.

It will be the second time Mrs French, who brought home gold at the Tokyo Olympics, will compete in front of an Olympic crowd.

"It's never easy being part of the GB women's squad because it's always such tough competition," the 33-year-old said.

'Real strength'

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset, Mrs French said training had been "very up and down".

She added: "We've got real strength and depth within the women's squad.

"Coming back off a year break, I knew it was going to be really challenging and it definitely has been."

Kate French said it's "always fun" to get into the Team GB kit

Mrs French was inspired to return to the sport after speaking to other athletes and not knowing what to do post-sport.

"Ultimately, I think I just wasn't quite ready to then be watching Paris and I didn't want to regret not trying to get there so even if I hadn't made it, at least I'd tried to get there," she said.

"But I have so I'm really, really happy."

Mrs French said the first person she called when she found out she had made the team was her husband.

"Tokyo was incredible but I think Paris will be amazing - being able to experience that crowd and have people watching it as well," Mrs French said.

"I'm really excited. It'll be a really proud moment being able to join the team out in Paris in all our kit."

The Paris Olympics will start on 26 July and end on 11 August.