shooting Yesterday was the day for which Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi had been preparing. At eight months pregnant, she was an anomaly in the Olympic Games as she competed in the women’s 10-meter air rifle as the most pregnant Olympian ever. The world had followed her story -- some supportive and some not -- waiting to watch her compete.

So she aimed, she fired, and fulfilled her dreams. That doesn't mean she won gold -- not even close. In fact, she came in 34th out of 56 shooters. But she's not disappointed, nor does she blame the pregnancy for her performance, even though she told the Associated Press that the baby kicked three or four times during the event.

"It didn't put me off," she said. "I told her, ‘Behave yourself, be a good girl, be calm, and don’t move so much.’” She says the baby girl obeyed.

After all of the build up and anticipation, it would have been amazing to see her pull off a victory. What a story it would have been for the pregnant woman from Malaysia to show up all the other contestants and emerge victorious with a gold medal around her neck.

Unfortunately, it wasn't to be, but she still has an amazing story to tell -- especially to her daughter (who they've already named Dayana Widyan), who was there, still growing inside her, for the event. She said:

I did my best, but the range got the best of me today. My dream came true. I got to take part in the Olympics.

As the saying goes, winning isn't everything, and in her case this is especially true. She came, she saw, she proved that pregnant women can compete, and she set a wonderful example for her daughter with her determination and ability to see a dream through. I can't wait to see little Dayana watching her mother from the stands when she hopefully gets another chance at the Olympics in four years.

What stories will you tell your children about your pregnancy?

 

Photo via Anuj Biyani/Flickr