These Olympians Praised God in Paris, and We’re Here for It
By Movieguide® Contributor
Allie Beth Stuckey is sharing some of her favorite gospel moments at this year’s Olympics.
“I saw God glorified [and] openly thanked by many athletes who could have taken the opportunity to just talk about how awesome they are…but when given a public platform, several of these athletes gave glory to God [and] gave thanks to God,” she said in a recent episode of her “Relatable” podcast.
She added, “I am thankful for how these beautiful people shouted out the Lord when they had the opportunity.”
Stuckey first mentioned German athlete Yemisi Ogunleye, who won a gold medal in the women’s shot put and went viral after singing a gospel song during the post-event press conference.
Ogunleye also spoke about the power of prayer, especially while competing.
“I was just saying a prayer,” she said of the moments before she took the field. “It was the moment when I knew that if I have the faith, I am capable of doing more than I can think or ask for. In that moment, I just took all the energy that I had left and just put it out there.”
Stuckey also mentioned Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who won her second gold medal in the women’s 400-meter hurdles.
“What an honor, a blessing, and a privilege,” McLaughlin-Levrone wrote on Instagram. “I never want to take these moments for granted. In a week where my faith was tried, my peace wavered, and the weight of the world began to descend, God was beyond gracious.”
She continued, “It never ceases to amaze me how powerful He is to help those who trust in Him overcome the battles within. His word is sufficient, His promises hold true, and all the glory belongs to Him. At the end of the day it is FAR beyond gold.”
Stuckey then spotlighted 16-year-old Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal, who used sign language to share scripture — “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic also gave the glory to God after taking home a gold medal, saying, “I feel grateful to God for giving me this mercy and giving me this blessing and this opportunity.”
Movieguide® previously reported on another Olympian who shared her faith after winning a gold medal:
Track star Julien Alfred gave God the glory after being proclaimed the fastest woman on the planet thanks to her gold medal performance in the women’s 100-meter relay.
“Thank you so much,” Alfred began to say in a video from Christhlete on Instagram. “I jumped up in the air. I know my siblings are watching, and I’m just happy it happened. You know, I said to God, I prayed to Him that whenever I win, I’ll give Him the glory always. So, I thank God for bringing me through, for giving me the strength to come so far and Father, I give you glory.”
Faith is a major part of the track star’s life, and she has Romans 8:18 in her Instagram bio, which reads, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
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