An Olympic Deflection & Reflection
Monday, August 12, Forbes posted this article: 2024 Paris Olympics: Sydney McLauglin-Levrone Breaks World Record And U.S. Wins 34 Track & Field Medals
It was one of many articles that has championed the thrill of victory for the U.S. Olympic athletes. The Forbes article began this way: “Team USA earned 34 medals in the track and field competitions at the Paris Olympics, the highest medal count since the 1984 L.A. Games. American track athletes earned 14 gold medals, 11 silver medals, and 9 bronze medals.”
But the title emphasized one athlete, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Who is she and what makes her uniquely stand out among the 126 U.S. medalists?
She ran the 400 meter hurdles in 50.37 seconds setting a new world record for the sixth time and earned her second of four Olympic gold medal.
She is the first track athlete to break four world records in the same event.
She was the first woman to break the 52-second (June 2021) and 51-second (July 2022) barriers.
She is married to Andre Levrone Jr. who played parts of three seasons as a wide receiver in the NFL before leaving the league.
But what is most notable about Sydney, at least for disciples of Jesus Christ is this: Sydney and her husband are followers of Christ and attend Grace Community Church in Los Angeles. Andre is also enrolled at The Master's Seminary.
Here is what Sydney posted after winning her gold medal and setting another world record: “I could feel this meet was going to be something special…but MAN. Weeks like these are some of the hardest in a track athlete's life. The mental strain of preparing for the rounds in order to solidify your spot is heavy enough. But the amount of weight the Lord took off my shoulders, is the reason I could run so freely yesterday. My faith was being tested all week. From bad practices, to 3 false start delays, to a meet delay, I just kept hearing God say, ‘Just focus on me’. It was the best race plan I could have ever assembled. I no longer run for self-recognition, but to reflect His perfect will that is already set in stone. I don’t deserve anything. But by grace, through faith, Jesus has given me everything. Records come and go. The glory of God is eternal. Thank you Father.”
You can read through Sydney’s other Instagram posts during the Paris Olympics and see a deflection from the accolades of personal accomplishment and a reflection upon the Lord and His grace that grants us our abilities and opportunity to honor Him.
How do you and I reflect our skills and accomplishments at home, school, work, and play before a watching world and particularly before our ever-present Lord? The Psalmist says it best: “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth” (Psalm 115:1).
Pastor Jeff
“Nothing is more often misdiagnosed than our homesickness for Heaven. We think that what we want is sex, drugs, alcohol, a new job, a raise, a doctorate, a spouse, a large-screen television, a new car, a cabin in the woods, a condo in Hawaii. What we really want is the person we were made for, Jesus, and the place we were made for, Heaven. Nothing less can satisfy us.”