Coming back from serious spinal surgery and attempting to regain your place among the elite of world sport is a difficult enough prospect.
Doing so having just become a mum for the second time, and combining training with the demands of looking after two children aged under two, makes it even more daunting.
Yet, that is exactly what Helen Jenkins, Wales' most successful triathlete, is attempting to do as she looks to win back her spot in the British team for next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo.
In May, the two-time World Champion gave birth to son, Max, a brother to 21-month-old daughter, Mali, with husband, coach and fellow international triathlete Marc.
The Bridgend-based couple opted to add to their family after Jenkins underwent similar spinal fusion surgery to golfer to Tiger Woods, before he returned to win his 15th major at the Masters in Augusta in April.
"I came back after having my first child, then needed surgery which has taken longer to recover from than we thought," says Jenkins, who won the ITU world title in 2008 and again three years later.
"We thought it was the ideal time to have another baby if we were going to.
"My back felt really good throughout the whole pregnancy so it is quite exciting if I do manage to get back to a full level of training and I won't have to manage things as much as I have had to in the past.
"I really want to combine training and parenthood. With my daughter I went out training quite quickly after giving birth to her.
"While I don't feel I missed out as I spent a lot of time with Mali, it is hard to go out the door. You do feel guilty and you think you'd rather be in the house,
"That's why in my head I've given myself a six month window this year. I am going to be a mum first, then we will see how my fitness is and how I'm coping with it all.
"The first few weeks have been interesting with having another child to cope with. It is going to get easier as they get older, but we're incredibly lucky as both sets of parents live close and are incredibly supportive.
"If I am going to get back out there training, then I will need that network of support."
Jenkins has been one of Britain's top triathletes for many years. As reigning world champion she was one of the favourites for London 2012, but injury in the build-up cost her on the final leg, the run, as she finished fifth.
Now, she hopes her two children will get the opportunity to see her battling for major medals again.
"It is a big motivation for my children to see me compete as they haven't done. I did all that before having them," she adds.
"There isn't much stuff from my career around the house. But we were watching one of the world series races the other day and Mali quite got into it. I did say 'Mum used to do this' but I don't think she got it. She is still very young."
Successfully returning to elite level competition after childbirth is not impossible. Four-time Olympic cycling champ Laura Kenny has won two European titles while heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill regained the world title after they both became mums.
And even in her own sport there is a perfect example in what could be a battle of the Supermums in Japan next year, with Nicola Spirig of Switzerland.
"Nicola won the Olympics in London then went on to have a baby, then got silver in Rio," adds Jenkins. "So you know it can be done.
"Nicola is a friend so we keep in touch and I've chatted with her about how she managed it all and she is going for Tokyo having had her third child.
