Jodie Grinham makes history by winning Paralympic archery bronze while pregnant.

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

The individual compound open match was filled with tension. Paterson Pine, who won gold in Tokyo, held a slim lead going into the final end. Needing a 10 on her last arrow to secure the win, or a nine to force a shoot-off, she shot an eight, leaving the crowd gasping as nerves took hold at the crucial moment.

Grinham, shocked, bent over before embracing her longtime friend. The two have been inseparable since their teenage years, training together since 2014.

“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 just part of the sport.”

With her tall stature, shocking pink fringe, and long hair dyed blue at the ends, Grinham is known for her sharp eye on the target. But being seven months pregnant meant she had to make adjustments, including wearing a lower-slung quiver around her belly and altering how she lifts and holds the bow. Flat shoes helped her maintain balance, crucial in a sport where concentration is everything.

Adding to the challenge, Grinham had to contend with the little kicks from her active baby. “The baby hasn’t stopped moving, probably wondering what I’m doing,” she joked. “It’s been an honor knowing my baby is there, providing that little support bubble in my belly.”

She admitted to worrying that the baby’s movements might affect her shots. But with the help of her coach, she prepared for the sensation, practicing to stay focused despite the distractions. “Even during the matches, when I was at full draw, I acknowledged it—‘Mummy loves you, I’ll cuddle you in a minute’—and then carried on with my routine. Afterward, I gave him a little stroke and reassured him that everything was okay despite all the noise and excitement.”

Grinham is now at the same stage of pregnancy as when she went into premature labor with her two-year-old son, Christian. But she was determined to prove that it’s possible to compete at an elite level even in late pregnancy. She took precautions, ensuring Les Invalides was within eight minutes of the nearest hospital, and spent the past week in and out of the hospital for checks. But for Grinham, breaking boundaries made it all worthwhile.

“There is no stigma,” she said. “The stereotype is completely irrelevant. If you feel you can do it, and the doctor says it’s fine, then go for it.”

Archery has been part of the Paralympics since the inaugural games in Rome in 1960. Few venues have been as picturesque as the Esplanade des Invalides, with the Eiffel Tower to one side, the gilded dome of the Hôtel des Invalides to another, and the orderly topiaries in the garden, all under the watchful gaze of the bronze winged horses of Pont Alexandre III.

To the crowd’s disappointment, two favorites were knocked out early. India’s Sheetal Devi, the 17-year-old armless archer who holds her bow with her foot and pulls the string with her teeth, was eliminated in the early rounds. Meanwhile, France’s Julie Rigault Chupin was defeated in the quarter-finals despite the crowd’s fervent cheers. After a consoling pat from her coach, she left the stadium to a chorus of support.