**Paris Paralympic Games 2024**  

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**Jodie Grinham Shoots into History, Wins Paralympic Archery Bronze While Pregnant**  

- Grinham becomes the first pregnant woman to win a Paralympic medal.  

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Defeats fellow Briton Phoebe Paterson Pine in a thrilling shoot-off.


**By Tanya Aldred at Invalides**  

*Sat 31 Aug 2024 21:55 BST* 

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As the sun set over the Eiffel Tower, Jodie Grinham made history, becoming what is believed to be the first openly pregnant woman to win a Paralympic medal. She secured the bronze medal in a dramatic shoot-off against her good friend and fellow Briton, Phoebe Paterson Pine.


The individual compound open match was a nail-biter, with Paterson Pine, who took gold in Tokyo, holding a narrow lead heading into the final end. She needed a 10 with her final arrow to win or a nine to force a shoot-off. But nerves took over, and she scored an eight, prompting gasps from the crowd.


Grinham, overwhelmed, bent over in shock before sharing an embrace with Paterson Pine, with whom she has trained since their teenage years. 


“I knew I needed a 10 to put any pressure on her,” Grinham reflected. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s tough when it’s a teammate, but we both understand that’s sport.”


Standing tall with a striking pink fringe and blue-tinted hair, Grinham's aim was unerring. Her seven-month pregnancy required some adjustments, including a lower-slung quiver to accommodate her growing belly and flat shoes to maintain her balance—a crucial factor in archery. 


She also had to cope with the constant movements of her active baby. “The baby hasn’t stopped moving,” she said. “It feels like the baby is saying, 'What are you doing?' It’s been a real honor to have that little support bubble in my belly.”


Grinham admitted to concerns about her baby's movements affecting her shots, but she and her coach prepared for this, practicing with different positions to get used to the feeling. “Even during matches today, when I was at full draw, I’d acknowledge it, say ‘mummy loves you, I’ll cuddle you in a minute,’ then focus on my process. Afterward, I’d give my belly a little stroke and say, ‘It’s all fine; I know it’s a lot of noise, a lot of heartbeat.’”


At seven months pregnant, Jodie Grinham has now reached the same stage of pregnancy at which she went into premature labor with her son, Christian, who is now two years old. Despite this, she was determined to prove that competing at an elite level while in the later stages of pregnancy is possible. Grinham took precautions, ensuring that Les Invalides was within an eight-minute drive from the nearest hospital, and she spent the last week frequently visiting the hospital for check-ups. However, she felt it was all worthwhile to challenge conventional boundaries.



“There is no stigma,” Grinham said. “The stereotype is completely irrelevant. If you feel you can do it, it doesn’t matter. If the doctor says it’s fine, then go and do it.”


Archery has been part of the Paralympics since the first games in Rome in 1960, but it has rarely enjoyed such a picturesque setting as the Esplanade des Invalides. The venue featured the Eiffel Tower in the backdrop, the gilded dome of the Hotel des Invalides, perfectly lined topiary trees, and the bronze winged horses of the Pont Alexandre III.


To the crowd's dismay, two fan favorites were eliminated early. India’s 17-year-old armless archer, Sheetal Devi, who shoots using her feet to lift the bow and her teeth to draw the string, was knocked out in the elimination round. Meanwhile, French archer Julie Rigault Chupin exited at the quarter-final stage, despite the crowd's vocal support. She was consoled with a back rub from her coach as she left the stadium to loud cheers.