By Mallory Mattingly
Big Ten Champion and new weight throw collegiate record holder Ryan Johnson credited Christ for the ability to break the record.
“I got to start by saying it’s really just my relationship with Christ and Jesus giving me the strength to be here. It’s not anything new. It’s just that I found more faith and more peace, and once that clicks, the rest comes along,” Ryan said in an interview as he held up his Bible after he secured the title.
Johnson launched a “world-leading 25.66-meter mark at the 2026 Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships,” the Iowa Hawkeyes reported. “Johnson’s mark not only set a new school record but also shattered the collegiate, meet, and facility records. He now ranks third all-time among American weight throwers and fourth in history overall. The previous Big Ten record of 25.58 meters was set by Michael Lihrman of Wisconsin in 2015.”
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“We had a terrific day, led by Ryan and his dominant performance in the weight throw, not only winning the title, but setting the facility, Big Ten and NCAA record in the process,” Iowa Track and Field Director Joey Woody said. “He is an amazing competitor and has stamped his name as one of the all-time greats in the history of the NCAA.”
“I’m extremely proud of Ryan today,” Associate Head Coach Ray Robinson echoed. “He went out and executed the plan. A collegiate record is an unbelievable achievement. It’s a goal we knew he could accomplish and to see it done at the Big Ten Championships makes it even sweeter.”
Johnson shared the video of his record throw and captioned the post with the Bible verse, Romans 5:8, which says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
“God wants you, how you are now; he wants your imperfection, he wants your struggles, bring them to him! You don’t clean yourself BEFORE you get in the shower!” Johnson added.
It’s an incredible comeback for Johnson, who got surgery on his wrist in 2025 for a lingering injury.
“Seven days after the season ended, I went in for surgery,” Johnson posted last June. “This has been a long road, dealing with an injury that’s lingered for a while. I’ve received multiple diagnoses over the past year, but none of them gave us real clarity. It’s been frustrating, confusing, and honestly discouraging at times. But after months of pushing through and searching for answers, we finally figured out what was really going on.”
“I’m beyond thankful for everyone who supported me through this-and most importantly, I thank God for staying with me through it all. His timing is perfect, and I’m trusting that this is part of a bigger plan,” he added.
We love seeing athletes like Johnson overcome adversity to set new records and urge fans to put their faith and hope in God.
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