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FAITH STORIES AT TOKYO 2020: ATHLETES WHO MISSED GOLD | KAIROS GLOBAL | DECEMBER 2021
Author: Joseph George
intro: In this last of the three-part series, Sports Consultant Joseph George writes about athletes who missed the Gold medals in their respective fields and yet glorified God.
The second edition of faith stories shone light on the God’s gifted athletes in the swimming pool. Here we shift our focus back to the athletes who missed the Gold Medal at Tokyo, and yet are happy with what God has showered upon them.
Nicola McDermott (AUSTRALIA)
High jumper, Nicola McDermott’s Instagram bio says: ‘What would a surrendered life in sport look like? @everlastingcrowns’. If we go through her performance in the past few years we will get a fair idea. In 2018, her personal best was 1.91m; she raised the bar to 1.96m in 2019; 1.98m in 2020 and became the first female Australian high jumper to clear two metres in 2021. ‘I’ve got a good system and a good routine, but I have faith that allows me to jump a lot higher than my body is really capable of.’
She cleared 2.01m at Stockholm in July 2021 and posted a video of it on her Facebook page along with a Bible quote from Isaiah 40:31: But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
While the Covid-19-induced postponement of the 2020 Olympics was a blow to many athletes, McDermott describes it as ‘a blessing in disguise’, both physically and mentally. ‘I didn’t realise how much the Olympics meant to me before it was taken away, since then I’ve seen my world ranking soar, my consistency improves. I’m ready.’
Nicola McDermott managed to clear 2.02m at Tokyo 2020 to earn a Silver Medal, only bettered by three-time World Champion Maria Lasitskene. ‘The 2.04m jump I gave myself a 10 out 10 for that jump, the execution. I felt the clearance in the air but just the lack of experience for the timing meant that it just didn’t happen today but, wow, to come second to a three-time world champion I can’t complain I am so, so thankful.’
Whenever she jumps she writes a biblical reference on her wrist. On 7th August it read: ‘Jesus makes all things new’.
Christian faith is an important part of McDermott’s life and has helped her manage the challenges of being an athlete. ‘He has been with me every single training session and I am carrying a message bigger than myself. He is going to make this new.’
Some of these athletes are connected through a network of Christian athletes called Everlasting Crowns, which McDermott co-founded in 2017. The group runs Bible studies and meetings across the world, as well as connecting believers to local chaplains during international competitions.
Kendra Harrison (USA)
Twenty-eight-year-old hurdler Kendra Harrison’s Twitter and Instagram bios begin with the words ‘I Love Jesus’. She played soccer (football) and was involved in gymnastics before switching to athletics: ‘I was a gymnast so it was easy for me to jump over things and I just had the ability to hurdle.’
Clearing hurdles became a part of her life when she was a new-born. She was adopted at the age of three months and grew up with ten other children where eight of them were also adopted. ‘It's all I knew and it's such a great family. We are all pretty close and I love it.’
Seven-time winner in the Women’s 100m hurdles at diamond league, Tokyo 2020 was her first Olympic Games. She is the current World Record holder in Women’s 100m Hurdles with a timing of 12.20 which she achieved in the Diamond League at London on 22nd July 2016. This was right after the disappointment of missing out on the Olympic Games Rio 2016. When she found out about her achievement she wrote on twitter: ‘I’m the WORLD RECORD HOLDER 12.20. I am a walking testimony of how incredible God truly is.’
Kendra Harrison was the favourite to win the US trials back in 2016, where she finished 6th. Five years down the line, she was the favourite to win the Women’s 100m hurdles in Tokyo Olympics. This time around, she had to settle for Silver.
When media probed about the disappointment of missing out on Gold, this was her response: ‘For this to be my first Olympics and to come here on this world stage, and represent my country to the best of my ability – all the glory goes to God just to have this opportunity. … Just to get a silver medal at this stage, it's amazing.’
Kendra Harrison has cleared many hurdles in her life and believes that it’s her faith that is conquering all the doubts: ‘Having my faith has enabled me to get up so many times when I've fallen in the sport. Without this gift that God has given me, I wouldn't be where I am now.’
Marileidy Paulino (Dominican Republic)
Twenty-four-year-old athlete sprinter Marileidy Paulino had two ambitions. To win a medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Outside of sport, she would like to set up a foundation to help orphaned children. She and her brothers were raised by their mother in a single-parent household, which motivates her to set up a foundation to help orphaned children. ‘I experienced what it is like not having a father, and I have seen what orphaned children experience. That is why, in my mind and heart, I hope to create a foundation to help those children who cannot depend on anyone.’
Paulino’s updated her Facebook bio on 16th August 2021, which in Spanish says: Por que todo se hace conforme a tu voluntad mi Dios en tus manos pongo toda mis metas y proyectos which translates, ‘Because everything is done according to your will my God, in your hands I put all my goals and projects’.
Her first ambition was fulfilled and that too in some style. She was part of the Dominican Republic Mixed 4x400m relay team which won the Silver on 31st July 2021. On 6th August she added another Silver in the Women's 400m race.
After her second-place finish in the 400, ahead of Allyson Felix, Paulino told the Associated Press that she considered her medal a ‘miracle,’ as she had only been running that distance for one year.
She was seen with the Dominican Republic flag, her spikes and the ‘Holy Bible’ after winning the medal. On her spikes, Paulino wrote, Dios es mi esperanza, Spanish for ‘God is my hope.’ She expressed the same sentiments in an Instagram post as well: ‘God is my hope, he was and always will be’.
References
author info: Software engineer turned sports management professional, Joseph George is currently sports consultant with Sony Pictures Sports Networks – India. He has worked as producer, commentator, statistician and sports analyst across multiple sporting events in the recent past.
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