Archer Yaylagul Ramazanova took a special good luck charm with her to the Paris 2024 Olympics: her unborn baby.
In an interview with Xinhua News on August 5, Ramazanova, from Azerbaijan, revealed, “I felt my baby kick me just before I took my last shot, and then I scored a 10.” A score of 10 is the highest possible for a single arrow, which was crucial for Ramazanova to beat China’s An Qixuan, the favored competitor.
At 34 years old and six and a half months pregnant, Ramazanova explained that she viewed her unborn child as a source of strength during her training for the Games. “I didn’t feel uncomfortable with my pregnancy,” she told Xinhua News. “I felt like I wasn’t competing alone but with my baby by my side.”
Despite being eliminated in the subsequent round, Ramazanova garnered significant support from fans. One Instagram user commented, “Women can do anything,” while another praised, “You are a champion!”
Team USA’s Casey Kaufhold, the world’s top-ranked archer at 20 years old, expressed admiration for Ramazanova’s performance. “It’s fantastic to see more pregnant athletes at the Olympics, especially in archery,” Kaufhold told The Associated Press. “Ramazanova shot impressively, and it’s inspiring because my coach is also a mother who supports her children even while away.”
Kaufhold also noted the significance of Ramazanova’s achievement, saying, “It’s wonderful for her to tell her child one day, ‘I went to the Olympic Games, and you were there with me.’”
Similarly, Egyptian fencer Nada Haze competed at the Paris Olympics while seven months pregnant. On Instagram, she shared her experience on July 30, stating, “What looks like two athletes on the podium was actually three—myself, my opponent, and my soon-to-arrive baby!”
