Jodie Grinham Becomes First to Win Paralympics Medal While Pregnant

Just getting out of bed when 7 months pregnant can feel like a victory, but Jodie Grinham is taking things a few steps further as she brings home gold and bronze for her country at the 2024 Paralympic Games!

The British archer, who has Brachysyndactyly—a condition affecting her left shoulder, arm, fingers and thumb—made history this weekend as she became the first paralympic athlete to win a medal while pregnant. On Saturday, Grinham beat out teammate Phoebe Patterson Pine to win bronze in the women’s individual compound open and on Monday, alongside teammate Nathan MacQueen, she earned Britain its 700th gold medal.

“I’m really proud of myself, I’ve had difficulties and it’s not been easy,” Grinham, who spent this week “in and out of hospital,” told BBC Wales. “But as long as I’m healthy and baby’s healthy, I knew we could compete. I knew if I shot as well as I could I could come back with a medal.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?’. But it has been a lovely reminder of the support bubble I have in my belly.”

Before the Paralympics kicked off, Grinham opened up about plotting her baby’s birth around this year’s Games.“Believe it or not the pregnancy was planned, I think that’s the biggest shocks that people find. We made the decision that we wanted another baby and we weren’t going to let the Games stop us,’ Grinham told BBC journalist Nuala McGovern. “You know we lost three [pregnancies], and we tried and it just wasn’t working for us and we made the decision that for Paris we weren’t gonna go through that again and I don’t want to be in the position where the older I get I’m holding off having a family for my career. Why can’t I have both?’”

The 31-year-old said she and her husband had a cut-off for trying as she didn’t want to be in her first trimester at the Olympics, but she was thrilled to bring baby along for the ride later in the game. “I love every minute of having my career and love every minute of being a mum. Why should I have to do it separately?” she told BBC Sport.

"I am very fortunate with my sport that I can continue to compete. I’m not going to say it is possible for everyone. But I think it is a milestone to show how far we have come as a country to be able to support someone and not go 'you shouldn’t be doing this’. For women, it is incredible.”

Congratulations to Jodie Grinham on her gold and bronze victories—and best wishes as she now prepares to bring home baby!