As the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower, Jodie Grinham made history by becoming the first openly pregnant woman to win a Paralympic medal. She secured the bronze in a dramatic shoot-off against her fellow Brit and close friend, Phoebe Paterson Pine.
In a nail-biting individual compound open match, Paterson Pine—who had won gold in Tokyo—managed a narrow lead that she held into the final end. Needing a 10 to win or a 9 to force a shoot-off, she shot an 8, leading to audible gasps from the crowd. Overcome with emotion, Grinham initially stood in shock before embracing her long-time friend and training partner of a decade.
“I knew I needed a 10 to put any pressure on her,” Grinham said. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and it’s tough when it’s a teammate, but we both understand that’s part of the sport.”
Grinham, with her distinctive tall frame, shocking pink fringe, and blue-tipped hair, has shown remarkable precision in archery despite her seven-month pregnancy. She adapted to the physical changes by using a specially adjusted quiver and modifying her bow-handling technique. Additionally, she wore flat shoes to maintain stability in a sport where focus is crucial.
In a nail-biting individual compound open match, Paterson Pine—who had won gold in Tokyo—managed a narrow lead that she held into the final end. Needing a 10 to win or a 9 to force a shoot-off, she shot an 8, leading to audible gasps from the crowd. Overcome with emotion, Grinham initially stood in shock before embracing her long-time friend and training partner of a decade.
“I knew I needed a 10 to put any pressure on her,” Grinham said. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and it’s tough when it’s a teammate, but we both understand that’s part of the sport.”
Grinham, with her distinctive tall frame, shocking pink fringe, and blue-tipped hair, has shown remarkable precision in archery despite her seven-month pregnancy. She adapted to the physical changes by using a specially adjusted quiver and modifying her bow-handling technique. Additionally, she wore flat shoes to maintain stability in a sport where focus is crucial.
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