The Paris Paralympics 2024 has showcased incredible courage and passion from athletes around the world, with Jodie Grinham of Great Britain standing out as a remarkable example.
Competing while seven months pregnant, Grinham made history by winning a medal, becoming the first para-athlete to achieve this feat while pregnant at the Paris Paralympics.
During the ranking stages in women’s individual compound open archery, she finished fourth and scored a personal best of 693.
She then won three tight matches en route to a bronze medal. The only defeat she sustained came from the dominant Oznur Cure Girdi, who eventually raced to the Paralympic gold in Paris.
With this victory, Grinham became the first para-athlete to win a medal at the Paris Paralympics while pregnant. At approximately 28 weeks, or seven months into her pregnancy, she made the bold decision to compete in the event.
“I wasn’t expecting that. I knew I could do it, but I didn’t mean ‘yeah, I’m gonna win a medal’. There was no guarantee,” Grinham was quoted as saying by worldarchery.sport .
Jodie Grinham, who has a disability in her left hand and shoots with her right, has not only made history in the women’s compound but has also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Mixed Team Compound in archery. This match is scheduled to be played today, September 2nd.
“That’s one of the biggest things I’ve said in interviews. I know people were already going to look at me and say ‘Oh, well done, you’ve done it. You’ve competed pregnant’. But I didn’t want that. I wanted more.”
“I wanted to show that I am not here to participate pregnant. I am here to compete and win medals. And I think I got that cross, which I’m really glad about,” Grinham said.
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