Archer Jodie Grinham Reveals She's Competing in the 2024 Paralympics 7 Months Pregnant: 'I Know I Can Do More'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jodie Grinham of Team Great Britain.Photo:Alex Davidson/Getty

Jodie Grinham of Team Great Britain trains ahead of the Para Archery at Esplanade Des Invalides at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games on August 25, 2024

Alex Davidson/Getty

Jodie Grinham might make history at the2024 Paralympicsin an unexpected way.

“I will have achieved something that no one else can say they’ve done,” she toldThe Athleticof her major accomplishment, teasing her water could break while she’s on the podium. “I [will have] been to a Paralympics at seven months pregnant and got to compete.” When she gave birth to her son Christian in 2022, she was at the 28-week mark.

The athlete, who finished fourth in the women’s individual compound open for archery on Thursday, Aug. 29 and came in second in the mixed team compound open ranking round, had “pregnancy prep sessions” for her competition.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Jodie Grinham in 2024.Alex Davidson/Getty

Jodie Grinham of Team Great Britain trains ahead of the Para Archery at Esplanade Des Invalides at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games on August 25, 2024

Nevertheless, she remains determined. “I know I can do more, it’s a personal best but there’s lots of room for improvement,” Grinham said, as perAssociated Pressfollowing placing fourth on Thursday.

“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.”

Being able to balance motherhood and competing with an “athlete mindset” has been important to Grisham, and her partner Christopher Greenan has been helpful. “I want to be a mother and an athlete,” Grinham also said via AP. “I’m not willing to sacrifice either of them but at home I am mummy.”

Jodie Grinham and Phoebe Paterson Pine compete in the Paralympics.Alex Davidson/Getty

Phoebe Paterson Pine and Jodie Grinham of Team Great Britain train ahead of the Para Archery at Esplanade Des Invalides at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games

Grinham previously won a silver medal at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.

Her next appearance at the 2024 Paralympics will be on Saturday, Aug. 31 when she competes in the elimination round for women’s singles and the mixed quarterfinals on Monday, Sept. 2.

To learn more about all the Olympic champions and Paralympic hopefuls, come topeople.comto check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Paris Paralympics, beginning Aug. 28, on NBC and Peacock.

source: people.com