'Could Feel Baby Kicking': 7 Months Pregnant, Britain Para-Archer Wins Gold

In the recent Paralympic Games, pregnant para-archer Jodie Grinham and teammate Nathan Macqueen bagged gold for Great Britain by beating Iran in the mixed-team compound final. Grinham returned to the Paralympic stage on August 29 for the first time since Rio 2016, this time seven months pregnant.

"All I wanted to do at the end was to jump up and down and cry and scream and shout," said Grinham, to the press after the game. Grinham claimed that even being heavily pregnant, realistically the best thing to do was to crouch down and take a second so then she could give hugs and things all around.

Mom-to-be Grinham Blots A Victorious History 

However, the Welsh archer already a mum to a toddler wanted to send out a message to women and her attendance at the Paris Games has attracted worldwide media attention. And as fate would have it, it would be her moment, as the Brit went on to claim the Bronze in Compound Women’s Archery, becoming the first athlete to win a Paralympic medal while pregnant.

The 31-year-old Grinham secured her historic win by defeating teammate and defending champion Pheobe Paterson Pine, in a nail-biter of a contest that would go down to the last arrow and end 142-141. Then, she went on to add to her historic achievement by also clinching the Gold in the mixed team compound event alongside British teammate Nathan Macqueen after they beat Iran 155-151 on Monday.

Grinham has a left-arm impairment due to dwarfism and hence is missing fingers with only half a thumb on her left arm. Now pregnant, she also needed to adapt her shooting to the new circumstances.

Grappling through struggles, Grinham Thrives

We’ve had to change stabilisation because the front is becoming more heavy. It’s been the key to making sure about even daily changes. If I need to add weight, I just do it,” she explained. She knew what she was signing up for. And she never complained.

The Brit, also a mother to two-year-olds back home as well, stated that she could sense her baby kicking as she competed in the Women’s Compound event, but maintained her calm and composure through it all to clinch the Bronze. 

“It’s been a real honour to know that the baby is there and that little support bubble I’ve got in my belly,” she continued. For Grinham, medaling in Paris is not just for herself. She said she hopes to set an example of female strength by bringing home the hardware.