Ten years, three kids later - Oliva back for Olympic bid

Oliva (second from left) won Commonwealth bronze for Team Wales as part of the women's team pursuit in Glasgow [Getty Images]Cyclist and mum-of-three Ciara Oliva says she has 'unfinished business' at the Olympics after making a remarkable return to the British Cycling programme.The former European champion and world bronze medallist spent almost a decade out of the sport and has three children with partner and fellow cyclist, Lewis.But after missing out on final selection to compete at the Rio 2016 Games, the 37-year-old admits she just could not give up on her Olympic dream.She returned to international competition at the summer's Commonwealth Games, winning bronze for Wales in the women's team pursuit, but says that was only the start."I could have stopped there," she told BBC Sport Wales."It felt like one of the most magical moments. My favourite medal I've ever had internationally, winning a bronze medal with the girls in the team pursuit in front of my children. It was like a fairytale ending in itself."But there's unfinished business and I am going to chase my Olympic dream one last time."Horne's Rio dream inspired by scrapbookOlympic heartache fuels Oliva's comebackOliva first joined the Great Britain cycling programme in 2014. She won bronze at the 2016 World Championships as part of the women's team pursuit. She also won two European titles in the same event.But come the Rio 2016 Olympics, Oliva was left watching on as reserve.Laura Kenny, Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker and Joanna Rowsell were chosen for the Olympic team pursuit - and they smashed the world record to take gold."The fastest team rode," she is happy to admit. "They won gold."But I had to stand on the sidelines and watch that happen. And I was truly heartbroken."Oliva retired in 2018 and went on to be a physiotherapist - "I honestly thought I was done"."People would mention cycling and I would discuss it, but I always found it hard to talk about the Olympics. I got so close and yet so far," she reflected."The years went by and I had my three beautiful children, but I watched Helen Glover's documentary and I just burst into tears. I was like, I'm not done yet."There was still that little voice that was saying, just have a crack at it one last time."So to now have an opportunity to chase this, but this time with my family, my children by my side, watching mummy do all this crazy training day in day out, has just made the journey so much more special than I thought was even possible."Juggling training and family lifeDreaming of the Olympics is one thing.Getting yourself back on a world class programme, with a baby and two pre-schoolers to look after, was a different matter entirely.At that time, less than two years ago, Oliva says she told a few close friends and family that she was considering coming out of retirement."'Are you crazy?' was the reaction," she admited. "'Are you sure? You're sleep-deprived!'"But I think that they also know what I'm like and they also know how much the Olympics means to me."So to now make it back to the Great Britain Cycling Team is just the biggest honour. It is the biggest team effort from Lewis, my husband, who supports this 100% and [the children's] grandparents. I couldn't do it without them. "We had Lewis's parents out on a training camp with us in Italy so that we were able to train together."It really pushes me on."Just being back at the top table of British cycling is an impressive achievement, especially when you consider the strength of the current women's endurance programme.At last month's Track World Championships, Great Britain took gold in the women's team pursuit.Millie Couzens then led a GB one-two in the individual pursuit. Anna Morris ended the Championships with three golds.Oliva admits that getting final selection for the Los Angeles Games will be a 'tall order'.But then again, so was getting this far.With two children at school and a toddler at home, fitting in training is a challenge.She aims to do her indoor turbo sessions while her youngest naps. If not, they can often still be happening at ten o'clock at night.And in this second chapter of her career, Oliva is placing a lot more emphasis on strength work.She says she is targeting areas she would have described as weaknesses ten years ago and as a result she is faster and stronger than she has ever been.And thanks to her young family, she is certainly more motivated than ever."[My eldest daughter] is my biggest supporter," Oliva continued."Yesterday I had my GB suit out and she was holding it up with such pride. And I said to her, Mummy had to work really hard to get that back, you know. And she said I know, Mummy, I see it every day."Chase your dreams and don't be afraid to shout that out. Because it can seem scary. There's always the 'what if you don't make it?'"But then what if you do?"Oliva has ridden this path before. But never quite like this.And she is determined that, this time, her Olympic story has a happy ending.