Azerbaijani archer Yaylagul Ramazanova surprised everyone at the 2024 Olympics by winning while pregnant
8 august 2024 в 00:28
Archer Yaylagul Ramazanova participated in the qualifying competition for archery at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and was able to achieve an unexpected victory, carrying with her a talisman of luck — her unborn child.
«I felt my child kick me before I released the last arrow, and then I hit the bullseye», - said the first-class Olympic champion, who was six months pregnant, to the official Chinese state news agency Xinhua News on August 5. She then hit the bullseye again, the maximum number of points, and that was what she needed to defeat the Chinese athlete An Xuan, who was considered the favorite.
«During my preparation for the Olympics, I did not feel discomfort due to pregnancy. On the contrary, I felt that I was not fighting alone, but fighting together with my child», - she said.
Unfortunately, Ramazanova was eliminated in the next round, but she added that she was satisfied because she «did everything possible».
American archer Casey Kaufhold, ranked first in the world, was also impressed by Ramazanova’s achievement.
«I think it’s amazing that we are seeing more and more pregnant mothers participating in the Olympic Games, and it’s great to have one in archery», - said the 20-year-old athlete to The Associated Press. «She shot really well, and I think it’s really cool because my coach is also a mother and she does everything possible to support her children, even when she’s far away».
«I think it’s amazing for this archer that she will be able to tell her child one day, 'Hey, I went to the Olympic Games, and you were there too,'» added Kaufhold.
Stories of athletes competing while expecting a child are becoming less rare.
After Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez competed last week, she said that she fenced for two while being seven months pregnant. «What looked like two players on the podium for you were actually three! It was me, my opponent, and my unborn, little child!»
The athlete added that she and her unborn child faced «enough challenges», - both «physical» and «emotional» during the event due to pregnancy, but were able to overcome all difficulties.
In addition, American beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh-Jennings won her third gold medal, not knowing she was five weeks pregnant with her third child.
«When I fearlessly threw my body and aimed for gold for our country, I was pregnant», - she said on the «Today» show after the 2012 London Games
«I felt my child kick me before I released the last arrow, and then I hit the bullseye», - said the first-class Olympic champion, who was six months pregnant, to the official Chinese state news agency Xinhua News on August 5. She then hit the bullseye again, the maximum number of points, and that was what she needed to defeat the Chinese athlete An Xuan, who was considered the favorite.
«During my preparation for the Olympics, I did not feel discomfort due to pregnancy. On the contrary, I felt that I was not fighting alone, but fighting together with my child», - she said.
Unfortunately, Ramazanova was eliminated in the next round, but she added that she was satisfied because she «did everything possible».
American archer Casey Kaufhold, ranked first in the world, was also impressed by Ramazanova’s achievement.
«I think it’s amazing that we are seeing more and more pregnant mothers participating in the Olympic Games, and it’s great to have one in archery», - said the 20-year-old athlete to The Associated Press. «She shot really well, and I think it’s really cool because my coach is also a mother and she does everything possible to support her children, even when she’s far away».
«I think it’s amazing for this archer that she will be able to tell her child one day, 'Hey, I went to the Olympic Games, and you were there too,'» added Kaufhold.
Stories of athletes competing while expecting a child are becoming less rare.
After Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez competed last week, she said that she fenced for two while being seven months pregnant. «What looked like two players on the podium for you were actually three! It was me, my opponent, and my unborn, little child!»
The athlete added that she and her unborn child faced «enough challenges», - both «physical» and «emotional» during the event due to pregnancy, but were able to overcome all difficulties.
In addition, American beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh-Jennings won her third gold medal, not knowing she was five weeks pregnant with her third child.
«When I fearlessly threw my body and aimed for gold for our country, I was pregnant», - she said on the «Today» show after the 2012 London Games
© Puhova Marina
