A Historic Achievement for Great Britain
In a groundbreaking moment for both sports and motherhood, Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham has become the first pregnant Paralympic athlete to win a medal. This historic win was celebrated on the official Instagram account of the Paralympics on Saturday, as Grinham took home the bronze in the women’s individual compound event at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, all while being seven months pregnant.
Triumph amidst challenges
Grinham’s journey to the bronze medal wasn’t easy. She had to face her teammate Phoebe Paterson Pine, who secured gold in Tokyo, in a thrilling match. Reflecting on her unique experience, Grinham told The Guardian, “The baby hasn’t stopped [moving], the baby is saying, what are you doing?”
She continued, “It’s been a real honor to know that the baby is there and that little support bubble I’ve got in my belly.” Despite concerns that her baby’s movements might affect her performance, Grinham and her coach devised a strategy to adapt. She admitted, “It was really starting to worry me that the baby was going to move when I was at full draw and it was going to affect my shot.”
The emotional rollercoaster
Throughout her matches, Grinham maintained a touching ritual with her unborn child, saying things like “mummy loves you, I’ll cuddle you in a minute” before resuming her competition. After each shot, she would gently stroke her belly, reassuring her baby, “it’s all fine, I know it’s a lot of noise, a lot of heartbeat.”
Grinham made her Paralympic debut at the 2016 Games in Rio, where she won a silver medal but missed the Tokyo Games due to injuries from a fall. Ahead of the 2024 Paralympics, she expressed her hopes to medal, telling the IPC she would be “disappointed” if she didn’t.
Overcoming personal struggles
Grinham has been open about her struggles with fertility and pregnancy loss. She delayed trying to conceive due to the Zika virus during the 2016 Games and had to wait until after Tokyo, only for those Games to be postponed. “Obviously, with breaking everything and then the Games being postponed, we already delayed trying for a baby,” she said. “Then we had issues being able to conceive, which was heartbreaking.”
Despite these challenges, Grinham and her partner welcomed their first child, Christian, in 2022. “I’m not going to hold off having a family anymore for the sake of my career,” she told the IPC. “I should be able to do both. And that is exactly what we decided. Here I am seven months pregnant, competing.”
The road ahead
Grinham will compete again in the mixed team compound quarterfinals on Monday, offering her another shot at a medal during the 2024 Paralympic Games. She returned to the Paralympic stage on Thursday, finishing fourth in the women’s individual compound open with a personal best score of 693. Later, she and Nathan MacQueen placed second in the mixed team compound open ranking round.
“I know I can do more, it’s a personal best but there’s lots of room for improvement,” Grinham said. “The key for me was finishing in that top four, and that gives me a day off competition to focus on tweaking things and making myself better.”
Balancing motherhood and athletics
Grinham’s journey hasn’t been solely about medals. She hopes to set an example of female strength and resilience. “I want to be a mother and an athlete,” she said. “I’m not willing to sacrifice either of them but at home I am mummy.”
Balancing her career and family life has been both rewarding and taxing. With her partner Christopher Greenan, she has learned to separate family time from work, allowing her to cherish moments with her 2-year-old son, Christian. “If I have, like, mummy hat and athlete hat, and if I’m in athlete mode, then that is it,” Grinham said. “You know, I am in an athlete mindset.”
Grinham previously earned a silver medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympics with partner John Stubbs in the mixed team compound and placed 10th in the individual competition. Her journey in Paris not only marks a personal victory but also paves the way for future athletes who aspire to balance their careers with motherhood.