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“I said, ‘I got the qualification, so it’s mine”, Taibi recalled before the event. Her husband told her that the opportunity to compete was “a rare chance that may not come again”, and her parents echoed the sentiment. But that didn’t stop the criticisms. Taibi said, “Most people said I was crazy and selfish because they think I am jeopardizing my baby’s health. [But] I am the mother. I know what I can do.” She also said that she felt the pregnancy actually improved her performance, giving her more weight and stability for shooting.
Taibi’s stand didn’t just earn her a spot in the Olympics - it also dealt a blow to the idea that pregnant women are fragile flowers who mustn’t engage in any vigorous physical activity. This is an idea that persists despite increasing evidence that pregnant women can do anything from vigorous exercise to drinking alcohol in larger amounts than previously thought without jeopardizing their pregnancy.
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—Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi Makes Olympic History (via stfusexists)
Larisa Latynina, person with the most Olympic medals after Michael Phelps, won five out of six events at the gymnastics 1958 World Championships while four months pregnant. Boom, pregnant women. Also, look her up, she’s all around awesome.
