British archer Jodie Grinham became the first ever athlete to win a Paralympic medal while pregnant when she took bronze in the women鈥檚 individual compound open on Saturday, organizers said.Related video above: Paris has become more accessible for disabled. Will it last after the Olympics and Paralympics?Competing while seven months pregnant came with a unique set of challenges for Grinham, like asking her baby to stop kicking so that she could concentrate on lining up the shot.鈥淭he baby鈥檚 kicking which is great 鈥� we got to the third end and I was like, 鈥楴ot right now, mommy loves you but we鈥檒l do kickies in a minute,鈥� she said afterwards, per the Paralympic Games website.鈥淭he baby hasn鈥檛 stopped, it鈥檚 like the baby is going, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 going on, it鈥檚 really loud, mommy, what are you doing?鈥� But it鈥檚 been like a little honor knowing that the baby鈥檚 there and just a reminder of the little support bubble that I鈥檝e got in my tummy,鈥� she added.Grinham pipped teammate Phoebe Paterson Pine to the bronze medal after both Brits had narrowly lost their respective semifinals, while Turkey鈥檚 脰znur C眉re Girdi won the gold medal, defeating Iran鈥檚 Fatemeh Hemmati in the final.Grinham added that her preparations for the Paralympics involved getting used to shooting and remaining concentrated with her bump constantly changing her normal stance and routine.鈥淏aby might be in my back today, or it might be really forward. So it鈥檚, 鈥榃hat are you doing?鈥� she told reporters afterwards. 鈥淢y 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.鈥滸rinham is aiming to win her second medal of the Paris Games on Monday when she competes in the mixed team compound quarterfinals alongside Nathan McQueen.鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want people to see it as, 鈥極h, there鈥檚 a pregnant lady going to a Games,鈥欌� she said. 鈥淚 want them to say, 鈥榃ow, a pregnant lady can compete at the highest level and medal,鈥� showing you anything is possible. Just go and do it. You want to do it? Then do it.鈥�
PARIS — British archer Jodie Grinham became the first ever athlete to win a Paralympic medal while pregnant when she took bronze in the women鈥檚 individual compound open on Saturday, organizers said.
Related video above: Paris has become more accessible for disabled. Will it last after the Olympics and Paralympics?
Competing while seven months pregnant came with a unique set of challenges for Grinham, like asking her baby to stop kicking so that she could concentrate on lining up the shot.
鈥淭he baby鈥檚 kicking which is great 鈥� we got to the third end and I was like, 鈥楴ot right now, mommy loves you but we鈥檒l do kickies in a minute,鈥� she said afterwards, per the Paralympic Games website.
鈥淭he baby hasn鈥檛 stopped, it鈥檚 like the baby is going, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 going on, it鈥檚 really loud, mommy, what are you doing?鈥� But it鈥檚 been like a little honor knowing that the baby鈥檚 there and just a reminder of the little support bubble that I鈥檝e got in my tummy,鈥� she added.
Grinham pipped teammate Phoebe Paterson Pine to the bronze medal after both Brits had narrowly lost their respective semifinals, while Turkey鈥檚 脰znur C眉re Girdi won the gold medal, defeating Iran鈥檚 Fatemeh Hemmati in the final.
Harry Murphy
Jodie Grinham of Great Britain with her women’s individual compound open bronze medal during the medal ceremony on day three of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games at Eplanade des Invalides in Paris, France.
Grinham added that her preparations for the Paralympics involved getting used to shooting and remaining concentrated with her bump constantly changing her normal stance and routine.
鈥淏aby might be in my back today, or it might be really forward. So it鈥檚, 鈥榃hat are you doing?鈥� she told reporters afterwards. 鈥淢y 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.鈥�
Grinham is aiming to win her second medal of the Paris Games on Monday when she competes in the mixed team compound quarterfinals alongside Nathan McQueen.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want people to see it as, 鈥極h, there鈥檚 a pregnant lady going to a Games,鈥欌� she said. 鈥淚 want them to say, 鈥榃ow, a pregnant lady can compete at the highest level and medal,鈥� showing you anything is possible. Just go and do it. You want to do it? Then do it.鈥�