Expecting Archer from Azerbaijan Amazes with 4th Olympic Victory – Hollywood Life
Archer Yaylagul Ramazanova has been participating in the archery heats at the Paris 2024 Olympics and caused an upset win while carrying a lucky charm—her unborn child.
“I felt my baby kick me before I shot this last arrow, and then I shot a 10,” the first-time Olympian, who is six and a half months pregnant, shared with official Chinese state news agency Xinhua News on Aug. 5. She then shot a 10, scoring the maximum points needed to defeat China’s An Qixuan, the favorite to win.
“During Olympic training, I didn’t feel any discomfort with my pregnancy. Instead, I felt like I wasn’t fighting alone, but rather fighting alongside my baby,” she expressed.
Ramazanova was unfortunately eliminated in the next round, but felt content knowing she had given her best.
“I felt my baby kick me before I shot this last arrow, and then I shot a 10,”
Meet 7 months pregnant Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 Archer Yaylagul Ramazanova. The first athlete from her country in this discipline.
Here’s to phenomenal women. May we know them, may we raise them, may we be… pic.twitter.com/DPsgvAVX27
— MiyeTani! (@Miye_Tani) August 3, 2024
Team USA’s archer Casey Kaufhold, ranked No. 1 in the world, also commended Ramazanova’s achievements.
“I think it’s awesome that we see more expecting mothers competing in the Olympic Games, especially in the sport of archery,” the 20-year-old expressed to The Associated Press. “She performed exceptionally well, and it’s inspiring to see a mother figure excelling in the sport.”
“It’s amazing for this archer as one day she can share with her child, ‘Hey, I competed in the Olympic Games while you were with me,’” Kaufhold added.
Stories of athletes competing while pregnant are becoming more common.
After Egypt’s Nada Hafez fenced in the competition last week, she disclosed that she had been fencing for two while seven months pregnant. “What seemed like two players on the podium were actually three! It was me, my competitor, & my soon-to-arrive, little baby!”
Hafez mentioned facing both “physical” and “emotional” challenges during the event due to pregnancy but overcame them to achieve her goals.
In addition, U.S. beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennings secured her third gold medal unknowingly five weeks pregnant with her third child.
“When I was giving my all in the competition and going for gold for our country, I was pregnant,” she revealed on “Today” after the 2012 London Games.