Alice Kinsella admitted she had to pinch herself after getting an up close and personal glimpse of history at the Olympics.
Alice Kinsella admitted she had to pinch herself after getting an up close and personal glimpse of history at the Olympics.
Kinsella finished 12th in the women’s gymnastics around all-around final won brilliantly by American Simone Biles.
Biles’s story of overcoming her struggles with mental health to regain the title she won eight years ago makes her one of the most talked about athletes in Paris.
And Kinsella, 23, leaves the French capital inspired by what she witnessed.
“I was in such awe in that arena, what an amazing thing to be a part of,” she said.
“When she was doing the floor I was speechless. With Simone, she’s such a good inspiration for young people coming up, the battles she’s had and the way she has coped with them, it’s an incredible story.
“I definitely look up to her and watching that floor in person was just wow. I have no words to be honest.”
Kinsella was also part of the British quartet that finished fourth in the team event and says she is feeling positive about her Olympic experience, while disappointed about not qualifying for the floor final later this week.
“I’m really happy with 12th as I didn’t make the all-around final in Tokyo and that was a real target for me,” she added.
“I made a few mistakes, I had something that didn’t get counted on the floor and I put my hands down on beam but I’m just super happy.”
My mum and boyfriend are here. They put up a screen at the end where I could see the family from home who couldn’t make it, it was so nice to see them because I’ve been away for quite a while now.
“They’ve given me so much support and I couldn’t be more grateful for it, especially my mum and boyfriend who came out to watch me, which means a lot to me especially with Tokyo where nobody could come out and watch.
“I’m just very grateful for all the support I get from friends and family. We also wouldn’t be here without the support of the National Lottery and all their contributions to our training and coaching.”
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