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5 Christian Athletes to Watch at the Tokyo Olympics

Photo from Team USA Instagram

5 Christian Athletes to Watch at the Tokyo Olympics

By Movieguide® Staff

Despite a one-year delay, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games kicked off on July 23, 2021. 

Athletes from 206 countries are ready to compete. But for some, their life purpose goes beyond sports and even the Olympics. Here is a list of Christian athletes to keep an eye on throughout the Tokyo games.  

Listen: Movieguide® Staff discuss Nightbirde, the Olympics and more in their new podcast! 

 

Allyson Felix — 400m Sprint

Felix has already won six Olympic gold medals and three silvers, and at 35-years-old, the mother will have a tall task ahead of her in the 400m sprint.

“For me, my faith is the reason I run. I definitely feel I have this amazing gift that God has blessed me with, and it’s all about using it to the best of my ability,” Felix told USA Today in 2012.

 

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Kyle Snyder — Wrestling

Snyder took the pro-wrestling scene by storm after winning the Olympic gold medal in the 97kg (213 lbs.) freestyle wrestling class at the 2016 Rio Games as a 20-year-old. Snyder became the youngest Olympic wrestling gold medalist in U.S. history but gave God the glory after his victory. 

“[God’s] given me His Spirit who lives inside me so I can live this way. Any accolades I acquire in this life are meaningless, but the growth I experience spiritually is what means the most,” Snyder told Spectrum Magazine in 2019. 

Cat Osterman — Softball

Osterman made the 15-player roster for the U.S. Olympic softball team this year after the event was cut entirely from the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. However, Osterman led the U.S. team to a gold medal victory in 2004 and silver in 2008. Despite announcing her retirement in 2015, Osterman is back and hopes to lead her team to win once again. 

“When I wake up there’s something way more important than anything on my to-do list, anything that’s going to happen on the softball field, anything period. I’m here for a purpose. It’s His purpose and I’m going to fulfill it,” Osterman told Spectrum Magazine. 

 

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A post shared by Cat Osterman OLY (@catosterman)


Micah Christenson — Volleyball

Christenson will fill the spot of setter for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Volleyball team in Tokyo. Christenson proved his leadership at the 2016 Olympics and ranked no. 1 in total running sets that year. As the starting setter for the U.S. men’s national team, he’s often referred to as the team’s “quarterback” because the offense flows through him. Christenson and his 11 teammates plan to win the U.S. their first gold medal in the event since 2008. 

“It’s easy to be with God when you’re doing things well, but to go through the mud with God a little bit was a great experience for me to have. … It’s like, ‘OK God, this is still hard, I haven’t conquered this mountain yet, but I trust You,'” Christenson told Spectrum Magazine in 2020. 

Simone Biles — Gymnastics

Biles, 24, looks to add to her already impressive Olympic resume in Tokyo. 

The Jesuit Review reported: “As she heads to Tokyo, there are four records she could break: the American record for most career Olympic gold medals won by a woman, the international record for most career Olympic gold medals won by a woman, the most gold medals held by an individual gymnast and the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic all-around titles since 1968.”

“I was taught that you can go to Him for anything and he’s the One that directs your life. She would always tell you if you don’t know, leave it up to God. Pray to Him about it,” Biles said in a past interview.

 

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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.