British archer Jodie Grinham secured a bronze medal in the women’s individual compound open at the 2024 Paralympics on Saturday, all while being seven months pregnant.
Grinham, 31, edged out fellow Brit Phoebe Paterson Pine in a close contest, winning 142-141 to claim her medal.
“I’m really proud of myself. It’s been challenging and not without its difficulties, but as long as I’m healthy and the baby is healthy, I knew we could compete,” Grinham said on Saturday. “I knew that if I shot my best, with or without the baby, I could bring home a medal.
“The baby hasn’t stopped kicking—it’s almost as if they’re thinking, ‘What’s going on? It’s really loud, mummy, what are you doing?’ But it’s been a lovely reminder of the little support bubble I have right here.”
This was Grinham’s first time back on the podium since winning a silver medal in the mixed team compound event with John Stubbs at the 2016 Paralympics, a category for athletes with "lower levels of impairment in the upper or lower limbs," according to the British Paralympic Association.
Grinham previously shared with The Athletic that she has "no fingers and half a thumb" on her left hand due to a congenital condition called brachysyndactyly. This condition also means she competes with arms of different lengths and an underdeveloped shoulder that affects her left side, including her core and hip.
In the past, she and her partner, Christopher, have experienced three miscarriages.
According to World Archery, Grinham is currently ranked No. 10 in the world in the compound women’s open category.
“My team has joked a few times that my waters could break on the podium,” Grinham said earlier this month. “That would be quite something.”
At the Paris Olympics last month, Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez revealed after competing in the women’s sabre event that she was seven months pregnant.
Archer aiming for Paralympic medal at 28 weeks pregnant: ‘My waters could just break on the podium'
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