Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham and Nathan MacQueen clinched gold in the compound mixed team event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, defeating Iran’s Fatemeh Hemmati and Hadi Nori in the final.
Grinham made history as the first pregnant Paralympic champion, capping off an extraordinary journey. She smiled and gently touched her belly, saying, “The little one was definitely more behaved today. I’m not going to lie.”
The 31-year-old had already made headlines on Saturday by winning an individual medal, challenging perceptions of pregnant athletes. “I didn’t want people to see just a pregnant lady at the Games. I wanted them to see: ‘Wow, a pregnant lady can compete at the highest level and win a medal,’” she said.
Grinham and MacQueen had one last chance to add to their medal tally in Paris, and they seized it. “It’s unbelievable. I’ve just become the Paralympic champion for my family,” MacQueen said, visibly emotional. Moments earlier, he had embraced his wife and son, who came to congratulate him on his first Paralympic medal.
“My 90-year-old grandma, my son, and my wife were in the stands. To do this for them is just amazing,” MacQueen added.
“It probably made me a bit more emotional,” he admitted, with Grinham chiming in with a laugh, “A lot more!”
The pair have a deep connection, having supported each other through their careers. “We just have a good bond,” MacQueen said.
“I watched him qualify for his first Games, watched him grow in the sport, and saw him become a dad. It’s a true honor,” Grinham said. “I told him earlier, ‘It was an honor to watch you qualify for your first Games, and being part of your first medal was exceptional. Winning as Paralympic champions together is the cherry on top.’”
On Monday, Grinham and MacQueen showed their consistency, winning their matches by nine, seven, and four points. “I knew we could take it,” Grinham said. “If we could shoot at the level we do in practice, having fun and enjoying it, we were going to storm it today. I’m really happy to say that we did.”
In the final, they scored 155, just missing the Paralympic record by one point. Twelve of their sixteen arrows hit the 10-ring, making them unbeatable at the Invalides. Bronze went to India’s Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar, who narrowly defeated Italy 156-155 in a tight match.
Seventeen-year-old Devi, who was cheered on by the crowd, won her first Paralympic medal. “I feel very happy. I came here for a medal, and when I stood on the podium, I felt like I won a medal in every event, so winning the Paralympic medal was also important,” Devi said. “I’m proud to have participated in the Games at such a young age.”
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games continue with recurve women’s elimination and medal matches on Tuesday.
