Medal hopeful Jodie Grinham is set to make history by competing while 28 weeks pregnant at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Grinham, who represents Great Britain and Northern Ireland in para archery, told Newsweek that it was an "easy decision" to try for another baby, knowing that there was a possibility that she could be pregnant during her performance in Paris.
"We weren't going to let The Games stop us from trying to add to our family," the 31-year-old said.
Grinham, originally from Wales, U.K., has Brachysyndactyly—a condition which affects her left shoulder, arm, fingers and thumb of the same hand.
Following the trajectory of her silver medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, Grinham explained that she and partner Christopher Greenan put plans to have a second baby aside to enable her to compete at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
"I didn't want it to interrupt my Games, and I didn't want it to ruin my career," Grinham added.
The 31-year-old also reflected on the stigma surrounding pregnant women and the ability to continue with their careers: "It's upsetting [that] we don't have more athletes or career-driven women being able to be pregnant and carry on doing what they're doing."
Despite the physical demands of pregnancy, it's business as usual for Grinham's training, but she told Newsweek it hasn't been easy.
"I can't do the long days that I used to," (Grinham would normally be training for 12 hours a day).
"If I'm starting early in the morning, I'll need a nap by about 2 p.m. to help me carry on into the evening," she said.
Then there's the question of clothing: "My bump is growing, so I need large or extra-large tops, but the top half is really baggy, which affects the string and the bow," Grinham explained.
Her quiver—designed to store arrows—also needs to be adapted to extend and move. "It's been an adventure, and I wouldn't change it."
Four years on from Tokyo, Grinham's perspective on growing her family has changed. She and Greenan faced challenges conceiving their first child, and they were determined not to delay expanding their family any further.
"We lost three trying to conceive my son [Christian] and it was heartbreaking. It was a very, very difficult time," she said.
As she prepares for Paris, Grinham remains focused on her goal of winning a medal but this time, there's a broader significance attached to her efforts.
"I want a medal, of course, and if I get it right, I probably could bring back a medal, but at the same time, this is so much bigger.
Due in November, Grinham will be 28 weeks along when the Paralympics begins on August 28.
She told Newsweek: "I'd like to get on the podium with my little bump but if I don't bring a medal home, I get an amazing prize at the end of this anyway."
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