IT WAS double delight for Haverfordwest archer Jodie Grinham as she added a Paralympics gold medal to the bronze she had already won.

Grinham, who is competing whilst seven months pregnant, and her teammate Nathan Macqueen combined in the mixed team compound event to become ParalympicGB’s first-ever gold medallists in the discipline.

The pair, who went in to the competition as the second seeds, defeated Australia comfortably in the quarter-final.

They then faced Italy, beating them 156-149 to confirm Grinham’s third and Macqueen’s first Paralympic medal.

GB always had the upper hand in the final against Iran, although an eight from Macqueen on the penultimate end made things more nervy.

The pair then ended with a perfect score to confirm themselves as Paralympic champion in dream fashion with a 155-151 triumph.

Jodie Grinham had already won women’s individual compound bronze at Paris 2024.Jodie Grinham had already won women’s individual compound bronze at Paris 2024. (Image: ParalympicsGB)

“It’s absolutely amazing,” Grinham said. “I don’t think there is anyone I would rather become Paralympic champion with.

“I watched him grow in the sport. I’ve watched him turn into a dad. It’s a true honour.

“I said to him earlier ‘It was an absolute honour to watch you qualify for your first Games and be part of you winning your first medal was just going to be exceptional’.

“Let alone actually being Paralympic champions together, it’s the proper cherry on top of the cake there.”

“It’s pure relief. This is my third Games and I hadn’t medalled, so was starting to get desperate,” said 33-year-old Macqueen, who was paralysed in a motorbike accident when he was 18.

“We are both parents now and there is a lot of sacrifice being a high-performance athlete, being away from your children. They are the hardest bits but this has made it all worth it, I can give my wee boy a medal.

“We’ve known each other for almost a decade. We have just got a good bond. I can tell what Jodie’s thinking most of the time which is a bit worrying. We’ve just got a good bond. We know each other’s thinking and we’ve got each other’s back.”

Grinham had already won women’s individual compound bronze at Paris 2024 and has now completed the set by adding gold to the mixed team silver she won in Rio.

“100 per cent I knew we could take it,” she said. “There was not a doubt in me that thought if we just shot how we shoot. Not we’ve got to shoot extra or there is more pressure.

“But I knew if we shoot the level that we shoot normally just in practice at home, enjoying it having fun, we were absolutely going to storm it today and I’m really happy to say that we did.

“We both had a few shots in there where we were like ‘ugh’ but at the same time I know that I can shoot those shots because Nathan’s going to have my back and put it in the ten and vice versa when needed.

“I love it, this is why I do sport. If I could never train and only ever compete, that would be absolutely brilliant in my life.

“But it doesn’t work like that when you’re an athlete. Being here and having the crowds, having the adrenaline and the meaning behind it.

“You’re not just shooting for the sake of it, you’re shooting for something. That’s where the real enjoyment and the real competition shots come out.”