Pregnant Olympic Shooter Needs Baby To Cooperate To Win Gold
Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi could win a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics for the Malaysia Olympic Team. But in order to do so, she’ll need her baby to cooperate. Suryani, a pregnant Olympic shooter, has asked her baby not to kick her while she’s competing.
Suryani said:
“I will talk to the baby before I compete… [I’ll say] no kicking, stay calm for one hour and 15 minutes only please.”
The BBC reports that Suryani is not the first pregnant Olympic athlete, but at 34 weeks she is believed to be the furthest along.
Suryani found out that she was pregnant in January, days after the 29-year-old qualified for the 10m rifle event at the Asian Shooting Championships. The pregnant Olympic shooter said that she has been dreaming of competing in the Olympics since she was a little girl and wasn’t going to give up her chance at Olympic gold.
“Most people said I was crazy and selfish because they think I am jeopardizing my baby’s health…. My husband said grab it as this is a rare chance which may not come again. Also, I am the mother. I know what I can do. I am a stubborn person.”
Suryani is currently ranked 47th in the world so it would be a pretty big upset if she were to step on the podium. The pregnant Olympic shooter also qualified for the 50m rifle competition but will not be able to compete due to her pregnancy. (The event requires shooters to lie on their stomachs.)
Suryani is hoping to give Malaysia its first gold medal. If that doesn’t happen, she’ll be satisfied sharing the memories with her new child.
“When the baby is born, I will tell her you are very lucky. You were not born yet, but you competed with me in the Olympic games.”
Suryani competes this Saturday. She is expected to give birth next month.
What do you think about the pregnant olympic shooter?
