Pregnant Olympians pushed the limits of possibility in Paris as they competed for two during the ongoing Games.

Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez and Azerbaijani archer Yaylagul Ramazanova were both carrying extra motivation when they competed at the Paris Olympics this year while pregnant.

Their remarkable performances with high determination and athleticism captured the attention and admiration of the world, according to international media.

Hafez, 26, participated in her third Olympics in Paris after also competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In Rio, Hafez finished 36th overall. Then, in Tokyo, she finished in 29th place.

Hafez, competing at her third Olympics, beat American world number 10 Elizabeth Tartakovsky 15-13 before losing 15-7 to Jeon Hayoung of South Korea in the round of 16 at the Grand Palais, reported Reuters.

Later the athlete, seven months pregnant, said that she was proud not only of her performance, but of having competed while expecting her baby.

"What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three! It was me, my competitor, & my yet-to-come to our world, little baby!" Hafez wrote on Instagram.

"I'm writing this post to say that pride fills my being for securing my place in the round of 16 ... this specific Olympics was different. Three times Olympian but this time carrying a little Olympian one!"

A day later, the Azerbaijani archer also revealed on social media to have competed while six and a half months pregnant. 

She competed in the women’s single competition, narrowly defeating Chinese archer An Qixuan in the first round 6-5. Ramazanova was knocked out of the round of 16 losing to Germany’s Michelle Kroppen 6-2.

Ramazanova told Xinhua News she'd felt her baby kick before she took a shot — and then shot a 10, the maximum number of points.

“During the training for the Olympics, I didn’t feel uncomfortable with my pregnancy. Instead, I felt that I was not fighting alone, but fighting together with my baby.”

Both Hafez and Ramazanova have inspired many mothers and athletes with their Olympic performances.

However, after revealing she was pregnant while competing, Hafez received some criticism online. Critics argued that Hafez’s decision to compete while pregnant could harm her child.

This is not true. Physical exercise while pregnant is beneficial to the health of both the mother and the child, according to the National Health Service, the umbrella term for the publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom.

“Exercise is not dangerous for your baby. There is evidence that active women are less likely to experience problems in later pregnancy and labor, the NHS said.

“Keep up your normal daily physical activity or exercise (sport, running, yoga, dancing, or even walking to the shops and back) for as long as you feel comfortable.”