The Olympic Games are considered the world’s foremost sports competition. Their creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games, held in Olympia, Greece from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. The Olympics have grown to the point that the 2024 games had around 10,500 athletes from 148 countries and was watched by almost a billion television viewers.
The International Olympic Committee has a noble mission to unite the world in peaceful competition and foster an atmosphere of peace, development, resilience, tolerance and understanding.
But the 2024 Olympics held in France, left many shaking their heads as wokeness seemed to abound. Following are just a few examples.
Due to farm animals’ alleged impact on climate, 60% of the Olympic athletes’ food was vegan (not even vegetarian). To combat climate change, athletes’ dorms were not allowed to have air conditioning. And true to its wokeness, the IOC forced women boxers to fight biological males.
There were also many anti-Christian displays, like the sacrilegious mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies.
During the Games, armed French police arrested six Christians at gunpoint for renting a coach to drive around Paris displaying the slogan “Stop Attacks on Christians,” with an image of the Last Supper parody from that opening ceremony. They were handcuffed, interrogated, strip-searched, refused permission to contact a lawyer or family member, and forced to spend the night in cells without food or water. It was not a great example of the peace, tolerance and understanding in the Olympic mission statement.
Then an Olympic athlete was given a choice to either remove an image of Jesus Christ from his surf board or be banned from the competition. Joao Chianca, a Brazilian surfer, is also a Christian. The 23-year-old’s boards are adorned with an image of the iconic “Christ the Redeemer” statue, a world recognized monument from his country.
But despite Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits any type of religious expression, the games featured a wide variety of God-glorifying moments that shone brighter than all the anti- Christian displays. One has to rejoice at the sight of Christian athletes from different countries showing the world what love and inclusion really means at this otherwise woke event. Here are just a few examples.
American-born British Olympic hurdler Cindy Sember posted a clip of eleven Christian female athletes gathered around a piano and singing praise to Jesus. Sember explained in the video, “There is truly something special when Olympians from different countries come together and pray. Grateful to have found other believers in sports to truly glorify God together with. I promise you God moved when we started singing together. He is so good.”
United States track star Noah Lyles praised God after he secured the title of “fastest man in the world” by winning a gold medal in the men’s 100-meter final. “I have Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety and Depression. But, I will tell you that what you have does not define what you can become. I thank God every day for getting me through each and every round,” he said.
Daniel Roberts won silver in the 110-meter hurdles. “I want to do my part in sharing the good news of what He’s done in me,” he explained. “People outside of this when they may see me and only see me as the track and field athlete, the Olympian, but if I can show them the other side of it and maybe bring them along for the journey then I’m doing great things in my eyes. I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do.”
Hunter Armstrong, a gold medalist on the U.S. Olympic swim team, said he has “no other choice” but to make God “a priority” in his day-to-day life. “I can’t really live without Him. I can live without swimming or being an Olympian or any of that stuff. My Christian faith is the first thing I want people to see and know about me.”
Christian track star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone gave credit to God as became the first woman ever to become a two-time Olympic champion in the women’s 400-meter hurdles. “I credit all that I do to God. I have a platform and I want to use it to glorify Him, and 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.”
Men’s 1500-meter winner Cole Hooker whose time of 3:27:65 was an Olympic record explained afterward, “I just let God carry me through to the finish line.”
Marileidy Paulino, who started her track and field career running barefoot because she couldn’t afford shoes, became the first woman from the Dominican Republic to ever win Olympic gold. Paulino knelt in prayer on the track after her victory.
Julien Alfred of St Lucia ran and won amid pouring rain in the 100 meters, gaining the title of “world’s fastest woman”. “I told God that whenever I win, I will give Him the glory always, so I thank God for bringing me through, for giving me the strength to come so far.”
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, after winning the gold medal in the men’s singles competition, told the media that God was the key to his success. “I thank God for giving me His mercy, for giving me this blessing and this opportunity.
In swimming, American Katie Ledecky became the swimmer with the most gold metals in Olympic history, taking her total to nine after her victory in the 800-meter freestyle. “ More than anything, praying just helps me to concentrate and let go of things that don’t matter in that moment. It gives me peace knowing I’m in good hands.”
Simone Biles, celebrated as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time with a record-breaking tally of Olympic and World Championship metals that underscores her legendary status in gymnastics history, has consistently attributed her success to divine guidance. Prayers and God’s watchful presence have been pivotal in supporting Simone’s spectacular feats.
Scottie Scheffler can now add Oylmpic Gold to his growing trophy case. Scheffler was visibly emotional during the metal ceremony as the national anthem played, appearing to wipe away tears. The American golfer took home the gold in the Olympic Men’s Golf Competition after shooting a 62 on the final day of play. He boldly proclaims to be a devout Christian and is very outspoken about his faith.
Yemisi Ogunleye of Germany won the gold medal in the women’s shot put. On her first attempt, she had slipped and fallen due to rainy conditions. Ogunleye said she overcame discouragement with God’s help. During the Olympic press conference, she was asked about singing in a Gospel choir. That’s when she revealed that after falling down during her event, she went back to her seat and sang a Gospel song called “I Almost Let Go.”
Then she burst into singing for the world to hear: “I almost let go. I was right at the edge of a breakthrough but couldn’t see it. The devil really had me, but Jesus came and grabbed me. He held me close, so I wouldn’t let go. God’s mercy kept me, so I wouldn’t let go. So I’m here today because God kept me. I’m alive today only because of His grace. Oh, He kept me. God kept me. God’s mercies kept me so I wouldn’t let go.”
Those who heard her sing about her faith burst into applause, and then the moment quickly went viral on social media with Christians sharing about it on multiple platforms.
Evangelist Franklin Graham posted about her decision to glorify God, writing on Facebook, “Olympic gold metal winner Yemisi Ogunleye stuns the press with a beautiful song about how Jesus Christ has kept her.
She sings, ‘I’m alive today because of His grace.’ Thank you for not being ashamed of His Name Yemisi!”
Behind the scenes, there was a huge prayer and evangelistic movement with “hundred upon hundreds” of salvations according to Frank Shelton, a four-time chaplain at the summer games. “ We all witnessed the USA dominate, but {what} was so beautiful was how so many gave glory to God.”
Woke secularists may have tried to pervert love and inclusion into diabolical attempt to mock Christianity at the 2024 Olympics but we must remind ourselves, they will not win in the end. And we have some great Christian athletes to thank for the reminder, as well as an example of what true love is and where it comes from.