And while the 38-year-old said qualification for this summer’s Paris Games was not a priority, because “I do not need another Olympics to cap off my career”, she does want to reclaim a spot in the elite World Championship Series.

Holland, who hinted at retirement after finishing 13th at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, told the Post: “I am stubborn. People would probably say, ‘what have you got to prove? Enjoy your retirement’, but I wanted to show I could get back to a high level.

“It is very important for the next generation of girls to see it is possible to have a family, then come back to compete.”

Katie Zaferes, the Tokyo individual bronze medallist, and second in Hong Kong at the weekend, became a mum in July 2022. The 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist, Gwen Jorgensen, a mother of two, is still a regular winner on the global circuit and targeting Paris.

“There are more of us doing it, but I grew up thinking it was not possible,” Holland said. “I never thought I could have a family, and a career in sport, because no one else was doing it and there were no provisions for it.

“Now, it is changing. I had fantastic support from UK Sport and British Triathlon through my pregnancy, and on my return to racing.

“I want to get back to the World Series and show I have come full circle, and belong there. That will probably be enough for me. To be in Paris would take a massive turn of events.

“Also, if I could go to the European Championships [in September], and put down a result, I can say to my baby, ‘Look what we achieved as a family’, and some of the other girls will realise if they want to have a child, and come back to triathlon, they can do it.”

The two most difficult elements of combining triathlon and motherhood, said Holland, who won her Olympic bronze in Rio, were “saying goodbye to my daughter” when travelling to compete, and effectively recovering from training sessions.

“When [Emmie] was younger, she was more dependent, I was still breastfeeding when I was racing last year, so I was having to pump in airports and on planes,” Holland said. “I thought it would be easier to say goodbye this year, but it is harder. She has more of a personality, and understands I am not there. It was a challenge leaving her this time.

“Finding the time to recover is also really hard. I carve out the time to train, but at home you are not recovering [but] looking after your little one.

“It is what I want to do, she is my baby, and I want to look after her. But any parent will know it is relentless.”

Holland would not categorically rule out competing beyond 2024. “At this point, though, I would say I will probably not continue,” she said.

Holland saluted a “brilliant course” in Hong Kong, the highlight of which was swimming in Victoria Harbour, even though she was caught in a “melee”, and 30th out of the water. She entered the closing five-kilometre run in 37th, but a blistering time of 17 minutes, one second – the fastest of the 56-strong field – lifted her 26 places to 11th.

“One thing I have struggled with since coming back is the top-end speed in my swim,” Holland said.

“I did not know how far down I was at the start of the run; I just went as hard as possible to see how many people I could pass. I kept thinking: ‘You have done harder things, just keep running.’