Pembrokeshire-born archer Jodie Grinham is one of four archers selected to represent ParalympicsGB at the highly anticipated Paralympic Games in Paris this summer - and the 30-year-old will be 28 weeks pregnant when she competes - which is thought to be a first for any Paralympian competing for Great Britain.
Jodie, who will be representing ParalympicsGB for the second time, will be joined by two-time Paralympian Phoebe Paterson-Pine and Nathan Mcqueen who will be competing in his third Paralympic Games.
They will be joined by Victoria Kingstone who will make her Paralympic debut in the French capital.
Jodie, who hails from Haverfordwest in Wales and now lives in Crawley, Sussex, won silver in the Compound Mixed Team event at Rio 2016.
She will be 28 weeks pregnant when she competes in Paris, which is thought to be a first for any Paralympian competing for Great Britain.
She said: “It’s a very different experience for me this time around. You’ve got the athlete in me who’s relieved, excited and extremely prepared and then you’ve also got the mummy in me that’s going to miss home, miss my son and will be 28 weeks pregnant when competing in Paris.
“It’s all about creating a balance – as much as I know I’m going to miss home; I also love what I do so there’s always going to be a compromise.
“I can say I’ve been in the Paralympic family for eight years now and it really is family – we all support each other regardless of what we’ve gone through.
“I would love to bring a medal back like I did in Rio. To get on the podium, not just for myself and the performances I’ve done, but for women to show you can compete while pregnant and do well.”
ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome our four Para archers to the ParalympicsGB team for Paris 2024. Nathan, Phoebe and Jodie all have fantastic Paralympic experience behind them and I know as a group will lead the way when it comes to sharing that Paralympic journey with Victoria as she makes her Paralympic debut in Paris.
“I’m especially pleased for Jodie who has been selected to compete for ParalympicsGB as an expectant mum – a first for ParalympicsGB and news we were delighted to learn. ParalympicsGB has been in close contact with the support team at Archery GB as well as colleagues at the UK Sports Institute to ensure Jodie is well looked after at the Games and I know she has been thorough in her preparations too.”
At Tokyo 2020, ParalympicsGB won medals across a record breaking 18 different sports - the highest number of any nation ever.