Grinham becomes first pregnant Paralympic Champion as British mixed team takes gold
Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham and Nathan MacQueen paired to reach gold in compound mixed team event at Paris 2024, as they defeated Fatemeh Hemmati and Hadi Nori of Iran in the final.
Grinham is the first-ever pregnant Paralympic Champion in the history of the Games, adding the final piece to her mind-blowing story.
“The little one was definitely more behaved today. I’m not going to lie,” said Jodie, smiling and stroking her belly.
The 31-year-old became the first pregnant athlete to win a Paralympic medal when she claimed individual bronze on Saturday, attracting international media interest.
“I didn’t want people to see as others a pregnant lady going to the Games. I want them to see: ‘Wow, a pregnant lady can compete at the highest level and get a medal’,” she then said.
Jodie had another shot at a medal in the mixed team event and captured it with teammate Nathan.
“It’s unbelievable,” the 33-year-old said, holding back tears. “I’ve just become the Paralympic Champion ahead of my family.”
A few minutes earlier, he had hugged his family, who had rushed to congratulate him on his first Paralympic medal in his third Games.
“My 90-year-old grandma, my son and my wife were in the stand. To be able to do it for them is just amazing.”
“It probably made me a bit more emotional,” MacQueen added.
“A lot more!,” Grinham interjected, laughing.
The two know each other through and through.
“We just got a good bond,” Nathan said.
“I watched him qualify for the first Games,” Jodie followed. “I’ve watched him grow in the sport. I’ve watched him turn into a dad. So, yeah, it’s a true honour.”
“I said to him earlier ‘It was an absolute honour to watch you qualify for your first Games, and to be part of you winning your first medal was just going to be exceptional, let alone actually being Paralympic Champions together’. If that is a proper cherry on top of the cake!”
Grinham and MacQueen proved the day’s most consistent performers, winning their matches by margins of nine, seven and four points.
In the gold medal final, they scored 155 – just one point below the Paralympic record set at 156 – putting 12 of their 16 arrows into the 10-ring.
“I knew we could take it,” Jodie said. “I knew that if we could shoot the level that we shoot normally just in practice at home, enjoying it, having fun, we were going to storm it today.”
“And I’m really happy to say that we did.”
The W1 mixed team bronze medal went to Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar, who won a tight match against Italy, 156-155.
The Indian pair’s score matched the Paralympic record.
The armless archer Devi, who was loudly cheered by the stands, clinched her first Paralympic medal at only 17.
“I feel very happy,” she said. “I’m proud I could participate in the Games at such a young age.”
“I came here for a medal, and when I stood on the podium, I thought I won a medal at each event [I took part], so I also had to win the Paralympic medal.”
Devi is the second archer shooting with one’s foot to medal at these Games.
American legend Matt Stutzman made history on Sunday, when he became the first armless Paralympic Archery Champion.
Competition in Paris continues with recurve women’s elimination and medal matches on Tuesday.
Podium: Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Full results on the event page.
Compound mixed team
- Jodie Grinham and Nathan MacQueen, Great Britain
- Fatemeh Hemmati and Hadi Nori, Iran
- Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar, India
