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Competing at seven months pregnant presented unique challenges for Grinham, including trying to focus on her shots while managing the baby’s movements. “The baby’s kicking which is great – we got to the third end and I was like, ‘Not right now, mommy loves you but we’ll do kickies in a minute,’” Grinham said, as reported on the Paralympic Games website.
She described the experience as both challenging and rewarding. “The baby hasn’t stopped; it’s like the baby is going, ‘What’s going on, it’s really loud, mommy, what are you doing?’ But it’s been a little honor knowing the baby’s there and just a reminder of the support bubble I’ve got in my tummy,” Grinham added.
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Grinham secured the bronze medal ahead of her teammate Phoebe Paterson Pine, both of whom had narrowly missed their respective semifinals. Turkey’s Öznur Cüre Girdi took the gold by defeating Iran’s Fatemeh Hemmati in the final.
Grinham shared that preparing for the Paralympics involved adapting to shooting with her changing physique, as her bump altered her usual stance and routine.
“The baby might be in my back today, or it might be really forward. So it’s, ‘What are you doing?’” she told reporters. “My coach and I spent a lot of time on pregnancy-specific drills, adjusting my position and learning to accommodate the bump.”
Grinham is now focused on winning her second medal at the Paris Games, as she competes in the mixed team compound quarterfinals with Nathan McQueen on Monday.
“I didn’t want people to just see ‘a pregnant lady at the Games,’” she said. “I want them to see ‘Wow, a pregnant lady can compete at the highest level and win a medal.’ It’s about showing that anything is possible—if you want to do something, just go for it.”