Left to proper: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Steph Curry, Coco Gauff, Scottie Scheffler, Anna Corridor. (AP Photographs)
The 2024 Summer season Olympics are upon us, with greater than 10,700 athletes descending on Paris to compete in 329 occasions by way of Aug. 11. Although some group competitors is underway, the Video games start in earnest following Friday’s opening ceremony.
Of the 592 U.S. athletes who shall be competing for Olympic medals, many are additionally followers of Christ. We couldn’t presumably listing each certainly one of them, however listed below are 20 to observe over the subsequent couple weeks in France.
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Hunter Armstrong, swimming
Armstrong collected a 2021 Olympic gold medal by swimming the preliminary heats of the 4×100-meter medley relay, however now he’s aiming for gold in a person occasion. He’ll compete within the 100m backstroke, an occasion during which he’s the reigning world champion, and in addition the 4x100m freestyle relay. “I’m simply alongside for the journey,” he stated within the Summer season 2024 version of Sports Spectrum Magazine. “I [didn’t expect] to be right here within the first place, so I’m right here till God tells me to cease.”
“My prayer earlier than each race is, ‘give me the energy to do my greatest and should no matter I do convey glory to your title.’”
As we speak on the pod, we discuss to Hunter Armstrong about his Tokyo Olympic expertise, his stroll with Jesus & the 2024 Olympics.https://t.co/knZWy2hpCI pic.twitter.com/eHetlpaI7A
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) June 5, 2024
Kennedy Blades, wrestling
Paris will mark the primary senior-level worldwide event for the 20-year-old Blades, who competes within the 76kg weight class. She received silver on the 2023 Below-23 World Championships, and secured her berth within the Olympics by defeating Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Adeline Grey on the U.S. group trials. After clinching her spot, she was requested by NBC concerning the progress she’s seen in herself. “I’m going to be sincere, I’ve simply gotten tremendous near Jesus,” she said. “I simply wish to inform you guys that He’s King, and He’s coming quickly. So I actually imagine for those who guys put your coronary heart into Jesus Christ, you guys will expertise nothing however happiness and beauty. He’ll enable you by way of trials and tribulations. It’s Him, that’s the primary motive why I used to be capable of accomplish such a giant factor.”
Aaron Brooks, wrestling
After profitable his fourth consecutive particular person NCAA nationwide championship with Penn State, Brooks superior to the 86kg freestyle remaining on the U.S. group trials, the place he beat reigning Olympic and world champion David Taylor. As he usually does, Brooks praised God after his match. “Reward the Lord. Like I say many instances, it’s a journey with Him,” Brooks told NBC. “Simply put my religion in Him. Reward the Lord.” When requested later in a press convention about his recommendation to children who admire his wrestling skill, he said, “I’d say search the Lord. He’ll information your steps. Reward the Lord. Place confidence in Him. That’s the most effective recommendation I may give them as a result of it modified my life.”
Kelly Cheng, seashore volleyball
Together with associate Sara Hughes, Cheng received gold on the 2023 World Championships, establishing the duo as a medal contender for the Paris Video games. It’ll mark Cheng’s second Olympics, as she positioned ninth with Sarah Sponcil on the Tokyo Olympics. Cheng writes “Saved by grace” in her Instagram bio, and defined to Sports activities Spectrum what that phrase means to her. “It’s loopy to me that an all-knowing, omnipotent God would humble Himself and are available right down to earth as a human and sacrifice Himself for me,” she said. “He would undergo all of that torture and torment so I can stay eternity with Him. … Truthfully, it’s a reminder to me that I’m worthy and value it.”
Micah Christenson, volleyball
A setter on the lads’s nationwide group since 2013, Christenson is showing in his third Olympics. He helped the Individuals win bronze on the 2016 Video games and place tenth in Tokyo; the U.S. males are ranked No. 6 on the planet coming into Paris. The 31-year-old Hawaiian’s center title Makanamaikjalani, which implies “Present from Heaven.” His mother and father had bother conceiving, and his mom wanted an belly surgical procedure whereas in her third trimester with Micah within the womb, so for him to outlive, he “was their little present from Heaven.” Christenson was featured within the Summer 2020 edition of Sports Spectrum Magazine, during which he stated, “It’s simple to be with God once you’re doing issues effectively, however to undergo the mud with God a bit bit was an important expertise for me to have. … It’s like, ‘OK God, that is nonetheless arduous, I haven’t conquered this mountain but, however I belief You.’”
Vashti Cunningham, observe and area
The daughter of former NFL QB Randall Cunningham (who’s now a pastor), Vashti is a excessive jumper set for her third Olympics after putting sixth in Tokyo and thirteenth in Rio. She is a five-time nationwide champion and her greatest end on the world championships was third in 2019. She says Jesus is the “Savior of my life” on Instagram, the place she usually posts about her religion. “Preparing for Paris,” she wrote recently. “Leaving all worries, doubt, anxiousness, stress and stress in God’s palms. Once you see me you see His energy. I can’t do any of it with out His assist and steerage. Thanks all for the love and assist. Could all glory and honor perpetually be the Lord’s.”
Stephen Curry, basketball
He’s one of many all-time legends within the sport and has helped USA Basketball win two world championships (2010, 2014), however Paris will mark Curry’s Olympic debut. The U.S. males have received 4 consecutive Olympic gold medals, and are favored for a fifth straight. The 36-year-old Curry has lengthy been outspoken about his faith. “My religion is concerning the private relationship, extra so than following a sure non secular custom or follow. Challenges you to just be sure you are feeding your spirit with the correct issues versus what the world is throwing at us,” he stated in a 2019 episode of his “Stephen vs. The Sport” Fb sequence.
Sundays at Work.
Romans 10:9 “As a result of, for those who confess along with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and imagine in your coronary heart that God raised him from the useless, you can be saved.” pic.twitter.com/T5bE3WN4HV
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) April 1, 2024
Coco Gauff, tennis
She was presupposed to make her Olympic debut three years in the past in Tokyo, however was pressured to withdrawal after testing optimistic for COVID. In Paris, not solely will Gauff be making her first Olympic look, she’ll be the feminine flag-bearer for the USA on the opening ceremony. The 20-year-old is ranked No. 2 on the planet, the very best of her profession, and captured her first profession Grand Slam title on the 2023 U.S. Open. After the massive win, she kneeled at her chair on the court docket and stated a prayer to God. “I spotted God places you thru tribulations and trials, and this makes this second extra sweeter than I may have imagined,” she told the crowd.
Coco Gauff spoke about her religion in God after profitable the US Open:
“Oh my goodness. It means a lot to me. I really feel like I’m in shock. That French Open loss was a heartbreak. I spotted God places you thru trials. This makes this second even sweeter than I may think about. I don’t… pic.twitter.com/5Lkbz9F2gU
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 9, 2023
Alison Gibson, diving
Following a disappointing eighth-place end on the Tokyo Video games in synchronized diving with associate Krysta Palmer, Gibson retired from the game. However Palmer requested her to return final summer time, and after a lot prayer she did. The duo resumed coaching collectively, however sadly got here up wanting qualifying for Paris in synchro. Within the particular person 3m springboard occasion on the U.S. group trials, nevertheless, Gibson edged Palmer for the second and remaining U.S. berth. “My religion was one thing I may all the time come again to and acknowledge that regardless of how arduous it was, it doesn’t matter what insecurities I used to be feeling, my identification was centered in Christ,” Gibson stated within the Summer season 2024 version of Sports Spectrum Magazine, “and God made me uniquely for this objective and for this path.”
“My religion has actually saved me centered, particularly by way of the Olympics.”
As we speak we chat with Olympic diver from the College of Texas, Alison Gibson .https://t.co/aIjAudwHgO pic.twitter.com/AvTGueMMgG
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) December 7, 2023
Anna Corridor, observe and area
The 23-year-old heptathlete is making her Olympic debut, however shall be a frontrunner for a medal. She positioned second on the 2023 World Championships and posted the world’s greatest heptathlon rating in 2023 (6,988 factors), which ranks because the fifth-highest mark all time. For a function within the Summer season 2024 version of Sports Spectrum Magazine, Corridor stated, “He’s my Lord and Savior. Jesus is the rationale we’re right here and that we’re capable of have hope, and that impacts all elements of my life, however undoubtedly sports activities.”
“When one thing goes unsuitable, there’s one thing higher coming for those who simply keep trustworthy.”
As we speak on the podcast, @JonDAckerman talks with U.S. heptathlete @annaahalll about nearing her Olympic dream and rising in her religion.https://t.co/BbJVcasqPf pic.twitter.com/50Qgz0nzNH
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) May 29, 2024
Vincent Hancock, taking pictures
Hancock is trying to make some historical past in Paris, which shall be his fifth Olympics. He received his first of three Olympic skeet taking pictures gold medals in 2008 at age 19, earlier than including to his assortment in 2012 and 2021 (he positioned fifteenth in 2016). Ought to he win gold once more, he’d be the sixth athlete to win the identical particular person Olympic occasion 4 instances, the fourth American, and the primary shooter. He’s additionally a believer who grew up in a Christian residence, however actually got here to know Christ after he married his spouse, Rebekah. “Slowly however certainly, she made me perceive who Jesus was once more and what He had achieved for us, and I simply fell again in love with Him,” Hancock said in 2016.
A 38-year-old from Fort Value, Texas, hit his first 26 targets earlier than lacking, however then he closed with 34 straight.
Vincent Hancock, skeet gold medalist and believer in Christ, says religion is a significant a part of his life. https://t.co/88WJgleXCN
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) July 26, 2021
Brody Malone, gymnastics
A 12 months in the past, Malone was re-learning learn how to stroll after struggling a extreme proper knee harm that included tearing a number of ligaments and his meniscus, and fracturing his tibial plateau. After three surgical procedures and numerous hours of rehab, he received the all-around competitors on the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in June, then booked a trip to his second Olympics earlier this month. “I simply have to offer all of the glory to God,” he told NBC at the U.S. team trials. “It’s all Him, and, yeah, it’s all God. So I simply wish to thank Him for this. … I’m simply so grateful for all the pieces that God’s achieved for me.”
A extreme knee harm wasn’t stopping him. 😤
Hear from Brody Malone after he was formally named to Group USA for the #ParisOlympics. #USAGTrials24 pic.twitter.com/M53iCeN7zG
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 30, 2024
Maggie Malone Hardin, observe and area
Malone Hardin is headed to her third consecutive Olympics, after putting tenth within the javelin on the Tokyo Video games and twenty fifth on the Rio Video games. She walked away from the game in 2018, however was inspired to return by Sam Hardin, a coach who was her boyfriend on the time and now her husband. She’s aiming for a medal this time round, but says, “If that’s God’s plan for me, nice. If it’s not, then I settle for that, however I really feel extra ready than I’ve prior to now.” She spoke to Sports Spectrum in 2021 and stated, “Prior in my life, if a [distance] that I threw was lower than my commonplace, I’d crumble. I’ve labored actually arduous on saying, ‘My identification shouldn’t be hooked up to no matter I throw, it’s present in Christ.’”
Simone Manuel, swimming
Manuel at 20 years previous turned first Black feminine swimmer to ever win a person Olympic gold medal when she received the 100m freestyle on the Rio Video games, the place she additionally received gold within the 4×100m medley relay to go along with two silvers (50m freestyle, 4×100m freestyle relay). She was identified with Overtraining Syndrome previous to the Tokyo Video games, however nonetheless certified for the 50m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay. Manuel’s physician ordered her to close down all bodily exercise after Tokyo, and after therapeutic her physique she fell in love with swimming once more. “It began with a name to be obedient and trustworthy to God’s calling and objective for my life,” she wrote on Instagram after qualifying for Paris. “Believing in the truth that He’s in management, and that He all the time has a lot greater plans for our lives than than we are able to think about.”
Helen Maroulis, wrestling
Maroulis upset three-time Olympic champion Saori Yoshida on the Rio Video games to change into the primary U.S. lady to win an Olympic wrestling gold medal, however briefly retired afterward as a result of two concussions that led to her being identified with PTSD. She returned and received a bronze medal in Tokyo, and is now the primary U.S. feminine wrestler to qualify for 3 Olympics. “I like sharing what God’s achieved in my life, and I’ll share concerning the good or the dangerous as a result of on the finish of the day, He’s with you thru all of it and it’s not about profitable or dropping,” she stated in a function for the Summer season 2021 version of Sports Spectrum Magazine. “It’s about understanding that, it doesn’t matter what, He’s there and He’s good.”
Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Helen Maroulis joins the podcast immediately! It is one other good one.
We talked about her new documentary, discovering pleasure in tough instances, and why beginning a prayer journal helped her develop nearer to God.@helen_maroulishttps://t.co/SIZpS4zc6l
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) May 30, 2022
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, observe and area
The world-record holder within the girls’s 400m hurdles (50.65 seconds), McLaughlin-Levrone is favored to win her second straight Olympic gold medal within the occasion. She’ll face stiff competitors from Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who lately posted a 50.95 to affix McLaughlin-Levrone as the one girls to ever run below 51 seconds within the occasion. However for the 24-year-old American, she’s leaving the outcomes as much as her Lord and Savior. “It’s the reality in a sport the place you’re actually chasing gold on a regular basis — I’d take my love for Christ and that relationship over a gold medal any day,” she told Sports Spectrum in January.
Do not miss immediately’s podcast! Two-time Olympic gold medalist @GoSydGo talks with us about her stroll with Christ, the Olympics and extra!https://t.co/PxiojhH2vs pic.twitter.com/mzNFhD602o
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) January 16, 2024
Scottie Scheffler, golf
He’s been the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer for greater than a 12 months, so Scheffler is making his Olympic debut because the gold-medal favourite. He’s received six tournaments already this season, and 12 for the reason that begin of 2022. However he doesn’t discover his price in his sport. “The explanation why I play golf is I’m attempting to glorify God and all that He’s achieved in my life,” he said after winning his first Masters in 2022. “So for me, my identification isn’t a golf rating.”
Kyle Snyder, wrestling
Eight years after changing into the youngest Olympic wrestling gold medalist at 20 years previous, Snyder stays one of many legends within the sport. He was additionally the youngest wrestler to ever win an NCAA, world and Olympic championship, however he was unable to defend his Olympic title in Tokyo, as he took silver. He claimed bronze on the 2023 World Championships, so though he is probably not the gold-medal favourite in Paris, he’s definitely able to reclaiming the highest spot within the 97kg freestyle class. All through his profession, he’s additionally been daring in sharing about his religion. “As large as the game is in my life, wrestling doesn’t outline me,” he wrote for The Increase in June 2021. “God alone defines me.”
Mallory Swanson, soccer
Quickly after turning 18 in 2016, Swanson (née Pugh) was the youngest participant on the USWNT Olympic roster and have become the youngest American to ever play and rating within the Olympics. Accidents and subpar play saved her out of the Tokyo Video games, however now 26, Swanson has regained her type as one of many high strikers on the planet. “I really feel such as you all the time ask ‘why,’” she stated for a Summer season 2022 function in Sports Spectrum Magazine. “I look again at it now and I do know precisely why it occurred — as a result of my religion in Him has grown immensely. Me getting injured and me lacking the Olympics and me form of discovering myself on the sphere once more, it actually began as a result of I discovered myself in Christ much more.”
Walker Zimmerman, soccer
Males’s Olympic soccer is proscribed to gamers below 23, however every group is allowed three gamers over the age restrict. Zimmerman, a defender for Nashville SC, was the one overage participant chosen for the USA. He’ll be a key chief for a squad taking part in its first males’s Olympic soccer event since 2008. Zimmerman has 42 worldwide appearances and performed for the U.S. on the 2022 World Cup, but says, “My identification is in Christ. It’s not on whether or not I had a very good sport or dangerous video games, ‘cuz you’re all the time preventing on your spot. He loves me for me and never primarily based on my efficiency — [that] is a free thought to have as a professional athlete.”
“Discovering group exterior of soccer as a result of it may be so time consuming…”
Be a part of us immediately on the podcast with MLS all-star Walker Zimmerman for a dialog about his present position with Nashville FC, and taking part in for an viewers of One.https://t.co/SI9fZhQgmt pic.twitter.com/W1IFeBEtK9
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) November 24, 2021
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