Shruti Suman
Player Azerbaijani archer Yaylagul Ramazanova defied expectations at 2024 Paris Olympics, earning global recognition not only for her skill but also for her remarkable determination. Competing at 35 years old and six-and-a-half months pregnant, Yaylagul’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Despite the challenges of pregnancy, she approached each shot with unwavering confidence and determination.
In a touching Instagram post, Yaylagul shared her experience of feeling her baby kick just before releasing a perfect shot. “I felt my baby kick me before I shot this last arrow, and then I shot a 10,” her caption read.
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Pregnant Archer Yaylagul Ramazanova Makes History at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Ramazanova is only the second archer in Azerbaijan’s history to compete at the Olympics, following in the footsteps of Olga Senyuk, who achieved this milestone at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In Paris, Ramazanova participated in the women’s individual recurve archery event and made headlines by defeating the 28th-ranked Chinese archer, An Qixuan, in the 1/32 elimination round. Although she was later eliminated in the 1/16 round by Germany’s Michelle Kroppen, her performance remains noteworthy.
Ranked 127th in the world, Ramazanova was not the only pregnant athlete at this year’s Paris Olympics. Egypt’s 26-year-old fencer Nada Hafez also competed while seven months pregnant, winning her first-round match in the women’s sabre competition against former NCAA Champion Elizabeth Tartakovsky from the USA.
Yaylagul’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the resilience of women. Her participation in the Olympics while pregnant is a groundbreaking achievement that challenges societal norms and inspires others to pursue their dreams, regardless of their circumstances.
Khushi Sikarwar
