Andrea Hansen's Commonwealth Games cheer squad has grown.
With 15-month old daughter Flossie in tow, the trip to Birmingham as part of New Zealand's six-strong triathlon team still hasn't fully sunk in.
"It's pretty surreal to be standing here."
As Andrea Hewitt, she burst onto the scene at Melbourne 2006 and two bronze medals later, she finds herself juggling a baby and another shot at glory.
"It is a balancing act, being a mum and triathlete," she said. "I have so much support - my family, my husband - so I train 2-3 times a day."
That support allowed Hansen to resume training just two weeks after giving birth, working up the fitness to impress at national events.
"Because of COVID, we couldn't travel overseas and that worked out really well, so off to Birmingham."
Re-adjusting has been tough.
"Swimming is a work in progress."
Said swimming coach Brett Naylor: "It's good that she's identified that as something she needs to work on... it's improving."
At 40, the three-time Olympian is not thinking too far ahead, with the 2024 Paris Games just around the corner.
"I know I'm getting older, so I'm just looking forward to this year and the Commonwealth Games."
And she's prepared to take on some extra responsibilty.
"I'm a mum, so I'll be the mum of the team," she laughed.
Hansen is now preparing to head overseas to test herself against the world's best, before suiting up at Birmingham.
