One of the most fascinating dynamics to emerge from this year’s Olympics are the triumphant spiritual stories that so many of the athletes have been openly sharing — stories of overcoming the odds, relying on God and finding identity in Christ.
Among those sharing these uplifting informational bits is skeleton racer Elisabeth Vathje, who opened up to the Baptist Press about her Christian faith, proclaiming that it is the most important thing in her life.
“First and foremost, I’m a child of God. I’m not a skeleton athlete or any of that,” she said. “It doesn’t matter my profession, but Jesus is still my Lord, and that’s what’s first in everything I do.”
Perhaps the most noteworthy comments Vathje made were about identity and her value and worth as a human being — sentiments that she said are firmly embedded in her faith in Jesus and not her standing as an athlete.
“I know that regardless of what I do on the track, that I’m still loved by God and that it takes every single pressure away — because I know God is giving me success,” she said. “But I know that even if the success doesn’t come, it doesn’t change the way God sees me and the way I should see Him.”
Vathje continued, “So, it gives me peace in that I don’t have to fight for results for my worth.”
Despite her crazy travel schedule, Vathje keeps in touch with her home church through her mom, who sends prayer requests out to the congregation. She relies so much on these parishioners that she said she couldn’t do the sport without them.
It’s clear that Vathje keeps her priorities in order, too, as the first item in her Twitter bio is “Christ follower.”