TOKYO Olympian Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne will try to win a place at her second Games next week at the final Qualifying Regatta in Switzerland.

The St Weonards rower, who gave birth to son Freddie in 2022, will become only the second mum to row for GB at the Olympics after Helen Glover in Japan, if she and Wales double sculls partner can win through ‘the Regatta of Death’, as it is known in the rowing world.

GB failed to finish high enough to qualify the boat at the 2023 world championships, and only two more slots for Paris are up for grabs in Lucerne, with Mathilda and Wales sculler Becky Wilde chosen in a completely new combination.

Former World U23 doubles champion Mathilda raced at Tokyo in 2021 alongside sister Charlotte, who has since taken up cycling, finishing seventh in the GB women's quadruple scull.

But the new mum wasn't allowed to race for GB in 2023, although she still took singles bronze in club colours behind Kiwi Olympic champion Emma Twigg and a Dutch Games medallist at last year's Amsterdam Regatta.

Now back in the squad, she won the B final for seventh with Wilde in their first race at the European Championships in Hungary two weeks ago, but knows they will have to step on again to qualify next week.

"Although it’s a challenge to juggle elite sport and motherhood, having Freddie has given me a new sense of perspective," she admits.

"It has been great to get back into training, race internationally at the Europeans and to be given the chance to qualify for the Olympics at the Final Olympic Qualifying Regatta.”

Crew mate Wilde, who made her GB championship debut in Hungary, added: “I didn’t think I’d be in this position a few months ago so it’s great to be given the opportunity and build my experience.

"It’s an exciting crew and I’m excited to be going to the FOQR. We learnt a lot at the Europeans and hopefully we can go to Lucerne and get the job done.”

The regatta starts on Sunday (May 19) with the finals on Tuesday (May 21).