US diving pair David Boudia and Steele Johnson gave thanks to Christ during a TV interview after winning a silver medal at the Rio Olympics.
The divers finished second to China in the Men’s Synchronised 10m Platform, on Monday.
Boudia recently released a memoir called ‘Greater than Gold’, detailing his change of focus from winning for himself, to giving glory to God.
Thankful
Speaking to broadcaster NBC, the 27-year-old said that he and diving partner Johnson are not defined by their sport.
He said, “we both know that our identity is in Christ, and we’re thankful for this opportunity to be able to dive in front of Brazil and in front of the United States.
“It’s been an absolutely thrilling moment for us”.
Gospel impact
When I was desperately chasing everything other than God, he loved and pursued me anyway
Boudia’s website shares his journey to faith more fully.
It opens with the confession: “For much of my life, I bowed at the feet of gods fashioned of gold, silver and bronze.”
It then goes on to share how a friend pointed him to a diving coach who made him aware of the gospel for the first time.
God’s forgiveness
Boudia said, “from the time they talked to me that Saturday, I was broken over my sin. I felt filthy, and ultimately cried out to God for his forgiveness”.
“When I was desperately chasing everything other than God, he loved and pursued me anyway.
“Now he has given my life a new meaning and purpose – namely, to pursue him and to know him more deeply”, he added.
Identity in Christ
It was a first Olympic medal for Johnson, who shared how knowing Christ provided him with a sense of peace going into the competition.
He said: “The way David just described it was flawless – the fact that I was going into this event knowing that my identity is rooted in Christ, and not what the result of this competition is, just gave me peace and it let me enjoy the contest”.