‘Far Beyond Gold’: Christian Athletes Showcase their Faith During the 2024 Paris Olympics
The recently concluded Paris Olympics featured athletes who displayed tremendous skill and hard work. However, their impressive feats weren’t the only things showcased at the Olympics. Christian athletes also garnered recognition for displaying true sportsmanship and God-fearing qualities, both inside and outside of matches.
One scene during the Olympics that caught global attention was the bronze match in the women’s 52-kg Judo event between Odette Giuffrida from Italy and Larissa Pimenta from Brazil. Before the game, the two athletes had already been good friends, to the point where Pimenta had shared the gospel with Giuffrida, who later became a fellow sister-in-Christ. After clinching the win over Giuffrida, Pimenta fell to her knees, overwhelmed with emotion and joy. In that instant, Giuffrida cheered for her newfound friend and asked her to get up and give back the glory to God.
Pimenta shared, “She [Giuffrida] is a special person to me. And what she said was incredibly meaningful. Odette came to know God through me—she came to Brazil and found God, so at that moment she told me to get up because all honor and glory should be given to Him. It was truly significant for me.”
Another gold medallist who demonstrated her faith is German shot-putter Yemisi Ogunleye. Ogunleye battled through many physical injuries and religious opposition from her own country, on top of the racist insults and bullying thrown at her. Through all this, she still trusted God and surrendered everything to Him. During a post-match press conference, Ogunleye shared a rendition of the song “God Kept Me” by Harvey Watkins Jr., sharing how God had helped her overcome all the struggles she had faced.
When asked about her final throw, Ogunleye explained, “Before the last attempt, I didn’t think about anything but just lifted my hands and prayed. And that might seem weird to some people, but that is really the source of my peace and joy. After seeing where the shot landed, when I knew it was hopefully going to be enough for the gold medal, I just went on my knees and said, ‘Thank you, Jesus.”
Similarly, US hurdle track athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone offered all the honor to God after not only winning the gold medal but clearing her world record with a time of 50.37 seconds, beating her previous record by 1.5 seconds. McLaughlin-Levrone uses her experience as an athlete to share Christianity through her book Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith.
“So whenever I step on the track, it’s always the prayer of ‘God, let me be the vessel in which you’re glorified, whatever the result is’—how I conduct myself, how I carry myself, not just how I perform. So it’s just freedom in knowing that regardless of what happens, he’s going to get the praise through me. That’s why I do what I do.”
In an event where top seeds and world champions come to represent their nations by demonstrating their world-class talents, it's difficult to redirect the well-deserved glory that comes with their Olympic successes to anyone but themselves. During the Paris 2024 Olympics, Christian athletes showed the world their faith, choosing to praise God whether they win or lose. These athletes have paved the way for others to continue shining for Christ, giving glory to the One who truly deserves it. From a place where athletes only strive to win, these players have turned the Olympics into an avenue to share God’s love with others.
