Historic Win
Jodie Grinham and Nathan Macqueen won the gold medal for the archery mixed team compound final for Team Great Britain, and she won the bronze medal in the women’s individual compound open in the 2024 Paris Paralympic games.
Clutching her bronze medal with a big smile, Jodie Grinham and her baby bump will be one of the iconic and memorable images of the 2024 Paris Paralympics. The British para-archer became the first pregnant athlete to win a Paralympic medal.
Worldwide Attention for Pregnant Athletes
Grinham’s achievement of competing and winning a Paralympic medal while seven months pregnant gained worldwide attention, not only for her skill but also for the powerful message it sent about the capabilities of pregnant athletes. She expressed that her goal was not just to participate, but to compete at the highest level and win.
It is a powerful testament to her strength, resilience, and dedication. It challenges long-standing stigmas about female athletes, particularly surrounding pregnancy and motherhood.
Competing for Medal with Contingency Plan
Jodie was not sure she would be able to compete due to being hospitalized the weekend before the games started and concerned that the baby had not moved.
She also made sure she had a detailed plan in place around where the nearest maternity hospital was to the competition venue at the Esplanade des Invalides in Paris.
Baby, Baby, Baby
On the day of the competition though, Grinham says the baby was in full kicking mode. “Baby hasn’t stopped kicking, it’s almost like baby’s going, ‘What’s going on, it’s really loud, mummy what are you doing?’” she told Paralympics Great Britain. “But it has been a lovely reminder of the support bubble I have in my belly.”
Inspiration for Others
Grinham did not just compete for the sake of participation; she pushed herself to win, adapting her archery technique to accommodate her pregnancy. Her success sends a clear message that pregnancy does not have to be an obstacle to achieving athletic excellence. The sight of Grinham on the Paralympic podium while expecting resonated globally, inspiring countless women by showing that it is possible to pursue both motherhood and professional goals simultaneously.
Her Future Plans
Grinham hopes to inspire other women, showing that pregnancy does not need to mark the end of an athlete’s career. She has plans to return to competition after taking time off for the birth of her child.
