Oznur Cure Girdi crowns a dream performance with archery Paralympics gold
Jodie Grinham shoots into history with Paralympics archery bronze while pregnant
As the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower, Jodie Grinham made history by becoming what is believed to be the first openly pregnant woman to win a Paralympic medal. Grinham secured bronze in a dramatic shoot-off against her close friend and fellow Briton, Phoebe Paterson Pine.
archery Paralympics In a thrilling individual compound open match, Paterson Pine, the gold medalist from Tokyo, held a narrow lead into the final end. She needed a 10 on her last arrow to win or a nine to force a shoot-off, but nerves got the better of her, and she shot an eight. Grinham, in disbelief, bent over in shock, and the two archers shared a hug, celebrating their long-standing friendship that began when they started training together in 2014.
“I knew I needed a 10 to put any pressure on her,” Grinham said. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and it sucks when it’s a teammate, but we both know that’s sport.”
Grinham, easily recognizable with her tall stature, striking pink fringe, and blue-dyed hair ends, has always had a sharp aim. Competing while seven months pregnant, however, required significant adjustments. She adapted her gear, wearing a low-slung quiver around her belly, modified how she lifted and held the bow, and switched to flat shoes to maintain balance in a sport where concentration is paramount.
Adding to the challenge were the frequent kicks of her active baby. “The baby hasn’t stopped moving, like saying, ‘What are you doing?’” Grinham shared. “It’s been an honor to have that little support bubble inside me.” Worried that her baby’s movements might affect her shot, Grinham worked extensively with her coach on adapting to the sensation. Even during the competition, she acknowledged the baby’s presence, mentally reassuring, “Mummy loves you, I’ll cuddle you in a minute,” before refocusing on her shot.
Grinham’s pregnancy is at the same stage as when she went into premature labor with her son Christian, now two years old. Determined to show that elite competition is possible during late pregnancy, Grinham took necessary precautions, ensuring that the competition venue, Les Invalides, was close to the nearest hospital. Despite frequent hospital checks in the lead-up to the event, Grinham pushed through to break boundaries. “There is no stigma,” she said. “If you feel you can do it, and the doctor says it’s fine, then go and do it.”
Archery, a Paralympic sport since the first Games in Rome in 1960, found one of its most beautiful settings on the Esplanades des Invalides. With the Eiffel Tower silhouetted to one side, the gilded dome of the Hotel des Invalides on another, and meticulously pruned trees lining the garden, the atmosphere was nothing short of spectacular.
archery Paralympics The competition saw early exits from crowd favorites, including India’s 17-year-old Sheetal Devi, an armless archer who uses her foot to hold the bow and pulls the string with her teeth. Despite her popularity and 312,000 Instagram followers, Devi was eliminated early on. France’s Julie Rigault Chupin also fell at the quarter-final stage, despite enthusiastic support from the home crowd. After a consoling back rub from her coach, she exited the arena to resounding cheers, embodying the resilience and spirit of the Games.
