This article references baby loss.
Archery always involves staying calm and steady under pressure. But in the buildup to the Paris Paralympics this summer, British archer Jodie Grinham added an extra element to her training, as she told The Athletic.
Sometimes, when she was in full draw position ready to shoot, her coach would tickle or brush her side.
That’s because, when the Paralympic silver medalist competed in the first round of the women’s individual compound event on August 29, she was 28 weeks pregnant. Those “pregnancy prep sessions” were designed to test her stability and focus despite any moves the baby might make.
“I’ve felt a really good kick just before I’m about to shoot, and I just think: It’s all right, Mummy knows you’re there,” Grinham told The Athletic.
Despite the potential extra distractions, Grinham – with bright pink hair that matched her bow – sailed through today’s ranking rounds in fourth place with a personal best score of 693. She’ll take on the first elimination round on August 30.
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Grinham believes she’s the first person to compete at the Paralympics this late in pregnancy, making her appearance at the Esplanade des Invalides today a milestone in itself—regardless of what happens later in the event. “I will have achieved something that no one else can say they’ve done,” she told The Athletic. “(But) I’m not doing any of it for a statement, I’m doing it for me. If that is enough for people to say, ‘Why can’t we?’ then fantastic.”
Grinham was born in Wales with a condition called brachysyndactyly, which affects the left side of her body. Her left arm is short, her left shoulder isn’t fully developed, and her left hand has no fingers and half a thumb, according to Archery GB.