Pregnant Malaysian Olympian Speaks About Putting Baby in Danger in Shooting Competition
Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi may have earned a position shooting air rifles for the Malaysian team in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, but she is also carrying some precious cargo that has caused concern among some observers.
Taibi will shoot in the 10- meter air rifle event in the Olympics, but the shooter also happens to be eight months pregnant. However, the Malaysian shooter recognized why some people were concerned about her participating in the Olympic Games.
Still, Taibi's husband has been supportive.
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"Most people said I was crazy and selfish because they think I am jeopardizing my baby's health," she told the press. "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."
Taibi, 29, is in her 34th week of pregnancy, and even if she doesn't rank highly among her 389 competitors she is making history. The Perak, Malaysia native is the first pregnant athlete to ever compete in the Olympics.
However, she admitted that the Olympic Committee was not always gung-ho about having her shoot her rifle in the Games.
'They [the Malaysian National Olympic Committee] wanted to send me to London early because they are afraid, but what I hear from Malaysian Airlines is that it is not recommended to travel for a pregnant woman from 35 weeks," she said in a Daily Mail UK report.
Despite the fears and apprehension coming from others, Taibi said she and her unborn baby will work to remain confident and calm.
"I will talk to the baby before I compete: 'No kicking, stay calm for one hour and 15 minutes only please.' But if the baby kicks I have to breathe easy and let her calm down before shooting,'" she said. "I like a rough job like that, not something girlie or feminine, I don't like those types of sports so I tried and it's been okay."
