Jodie Grinham has etched her name in Paralympic history, becoming the first athlete to win a medal while pregnant. The British archer secured a bronze medal in the women’s individual compound open on Saturday, a remarkable feat achieved while seven months pregnant, CNN reports.
Grinham’s pregnancy presented unique challenges, including her baby’s enthusiastic kicking during the competition.
“The baby hasn’t stopped, it’s like the baby is going, ‘What’s going on, it’s really loud, mommy, what are you doing?’ But it’s been like a little honor knowing that the baby’s there and just a reminder of the little support bubble that I’ve got in my tummy,” she added.
Grinham’s preparation for the Paralympics involved adapting to shooting with her constantly changing body.
“Baby might be in my back today, or it might be really forward. So it’s, ‘What are you doing?'” she shared with reporters. “My coach and I spent a long time doing little pregnancy preps of her (the coach) moving me and moving the bump, so I could get used to that feeling.”
Grinham’s bronze medal came after a closely contested match with teammate Phoebe Paterson Pine, with both narrowly missing out on their respective semifinals. The gold medal went to Turkey’s Öznur Cüre Girdi, who defeated Iran’s Fatemeh Hemmati in the final.
Grinham is not done yet. She is aiming for a second medal at the Paris Games, competing in the mixed team compound quarterfinals alongside Nathan McQueen on Monday.
