When the Olympics started they completely caught me off guard. I couldn’t believe it was already that time of year, but here we are, a week into the Olympics and the USA has done mighty well for itself.
The United States is currently leading in medals at 35 with China next at 26. We have 13 gold, 12 silver, and 13 bronze – but of course these numbers continue to increase as completion goes on.
Last Tuesday night, as I was watching the men’s synchronized diving event, I was deeply struck by what I heard from two divers in particular.
David Boudia and Steele Johnson were the only pair of divers in the event from the US – so, of course, I paid special attention to the TV every time they took they stepped up to dive. As I listened to the commentators notes on Boudia and Johnson, they made the same comment before almost every one of their dives. What the commentator noticed was how calm, collected, easy going, even lighthearted both Boudia and Johnson were before their dives.
On a stage like the Olympics, this isn’t necessarily what you’d expect from athletes competing on the biggest stage of their sport – and their life. While I would hope that the athletes could enjoy the wonder and excitement of being at the Olympics, I can only imagine how hard it is to suppress the pressure and nerves they must be feeling.
Boudia and Johnson did an impressive job and finished with silver second to the Chinese team. But what impressed me even more than their athleticism, was their recognition of Christ.
In their post-event interview, both Boudia and Johnson commented one how they could never have come this far in their careers without each other, and without Christ as the One they put their full identity in. Christ as the One giving them the peace and joy they exuded. Whether the outcome was good or bad, they could still rejoice and be glad in the fact that Jesus is the One who defines them – not how well they performed.
I admire them both for their faith and their boldness to proclaim Christ as the only one who can satisfy all our needs and give us the greatest fulfillment of our hearts.
Watch their full interview here.
