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PARALYMPIC archery champion Jodie Grinham admits it would be “absolutely wonderful” if her trailblazing exploits help break down barriers for other women attempting to juggle demanding careers with motherhood.Grinham fired herself into the headlines last summer by becoming the first openly pregnant Paralympic medallist thanks to individual bronze and team gold at Paris 2024.She endured online abuse in the build-up to the Games and overcame time at a maternity ward in the French capital thinking she may be going into early labour en route to a place in the record books.Daughter Cleo arrived just over two months later, on November 8 — four weeks earlier than expected.Grinham, who is currently on maternity leave, aims to be back to her best in time for September’s World Championships in South Korea and also has the next two Paralympic Games — Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 — in her sights.“I’ve been called a trailblazer and stuff and I am absolutely honoured but for me it was another day at the office,” she told the PA news agency.“If I’m the one that needs to break that barrier so then maybe the next Games we have people that aren’t stopping their career because they want to be a mum, and there are now women out there that are going, ‘I can do both’ and they’re not having to sacrifice parts of their life then wonderful, absolutely wonderful.”Grinham was 28 weeks pregnant when she dramatically defeated compatriot — and defending champion — Phoebe Paterson Pine to finish third in the women’s individual compound before topping the podium in the mixed team event alongside Nathan Macqueen two days later. Jodie GrinhamParalympicsmaternitypregnancymotherhoodWomen in sport Sport Women’s Archery Article Is old Issue Saturday, March 8, 2025 Embedded media node 12-09-2024 of Great Britain archery gold medalist Jodie Grinham Rating: No ratingRequires subscription: News grade NormalPaywall exclude: 0Article footer image:
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