Friday, July 20, 2012

Athlete, eight months pregnant, will compete in Olympics

A Malaysian athlete has already broken an Olympic world record without even medaling at this summer's London Games.

Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi, 29, will be representing her country at the Olympics while she's eight months pregnant— the furthest along for any mother-to-be competing in the history of the games.

Before you picture the the 29-year old knocking down hurdles with her belly or snapping the pole while vaulting, the young woman will be the first woman to represent Malaysia in a shooting event.

"For me, nothing is impossible, Nur Suryani said.  "It's one of the challenges.  If I abandon it, maybe who knows?  Another four years to wait, maybe I don't have the opportunity."

The pregnant shooter will compete in the women's single 10m air rifle competition— where she is ranked 47th in the world.



It's unclear how many pregnant women have actually competed at the games because the International Olympic Committee doesn't keep track.  Three women are known to have competed, but those were all during the Winter games and the furthest along was Canadian curler Kristie Moore who was 5-1/2 months along with baby.

Nur Suryani is concerned about giving birth at the meet but was also worried about her ability to compete before the Olympics which begin July 27.

"When I found out that I was pregnant before competing in the Asian meet, I thought that was the end of my Olympic dream."

She already knows what she plan to tell her daughter when she is older.  "You are very lucky.  You're not born yet and you already went to an Olympics."

Does this mean  Nur Suryani gets two medals if she wins, places or shows?

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