2026 Olympic Comments

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, several Christian athletes openly shared their faith.

Paul Schommer, skier on the USA Biathlon Team:

“My identity doesn’t come from my results, and it doesn’t come from affirmation of others, but it comes through my identity in Christ because he’s the one who gives me my meaning. Prayer is huge. It’s constantly having that communication with God. It helps me get in the right mindset and gain a good perspective on things.”

 

Tage Thompson, USA Men’s Hockey:

“It’s freeing to put your worries aside and accept that God’s got a plan for you.” Tage openly shares about his relationship with Christ in hopes of leading others to the Lord.

 

Josiah Alipate, USA Men’s Hockey:

“Jesus is everything. He’s Lord of my life. He’s Lord of all my life.”

 

Joy Dunne, USA Women’s Hockey:

“To God be the glory for all things. God is good. At the end of the day, I’m just a girl who loves Jesus and just happens to play hockey. My identity is in Him, not the game. When you trust God with your journey, the victories mean more, the platform has purpose, and the moment becomes ministry.”

 

Haley Winn, USA Women’s Hockey:

“Christ is my identity, my foundation. I think it’s the thing that keeps me grounded.”

 

Elena Meyers Taylor, USA Bobsled:

“God put me here for a specific reason and I don’t think it’s just to win medals. At the end of the day, I’m in this sport to glorify God, so if that means I come in last place, or I win the gold medal, that’s what I’m going to do.”

 

Jadin O’Brien, USA Bobsled:

“My faith is what keeps me calm before and during big meets. Athletics has helped build my faith by putting me in situations where I can put what I believe into practice. Athletics has made my faith stronger because I rely on it so much before and while I compete.”

 

Britta Curl-Salemme, USA Women’s Hockey:

“I think my life would be pretty chaotic and stressful if I didn’t have something steady and consistent that I can go back to that I can draw strength from, and that’s my faith. Just the routine of in the morning – I get up and the first thing that I’m doing is going to my Bible. Like any big competition, I’ve had the same mindset, and that is really to cut out distractions, to dive into my faith, and then to just stop thinking and just do. That’s when I perform at my best.”

 

Sam Morse, USA Downhill and Super G Skiing:

“My faith is my life. It is the glue that holds it all together. My goal is to be a loyal servant of my Savior and proclaim his name from the highest mountains.”

 

Kacper Tomasiak, Polish ski jumper:

Kacper is the first ski jumper from Poland to win three medals in the Olympic Games. According to CBN News, “Tomasiak laid his medals on a church altar, as an act of gratitude to God. Rather than keeping the spotlight on personal accomplishment, he chose to dedicate his success to the Lord, offering thanks for the strength and opportunity to compete at the highest level. He made a visible declaration that faith stands above fame, and that even at the pinnacle of global recognition, gratitude belongs to God first.”

 

May we, too, take the opportunity to share and live out our faith.

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2a

Tender Hearts

Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest times for florists. This year, there was one order that stuck out above the rest. An older man came in and ordered a dozen yellow roses to be delivered to St. Jude’s Cemetery. Asking if the flowers were for the man’s wife, he explained, “No, they are for her best friend. My wife has Alzheimer’s. She’s in a home now. She doesn’t remember me. She doesn’t remember her own name most days. But she remembers that every year, on February 14th, she used to bring yellow roses to her friend Sarah who died in 1968. She’s been asking about Sarah all week. Fretting.” After paying for the flowers, the man said he would go to the cemetery and take a picture of the roses to show his wife so she would know Sarah was remembered. After hearing the story, the florist said she made the biggest, brightest bouquet she had ever done. “Love isn’t just remembering. Love is helping someone else when they can’t remember.”

Last week, Debbie Potter and her husband went to the beach. While she was applying sunscreen, she asked her husband to hold her wedding ring. He slipped the ring into the back pocket of her shorts. When it was time to leave, Debbie asked for her ring. It was nowhere to be found. Her husband posted on 10 Long Island Facebook pages to see if anyone had found the ring. Several people offered metal detectors. Then he received a response from Mike Jandris that he was getting in his car and should be there in 35 minutes. Within five minutes of his arrival, the ring was found, all because someone they had never met went out of his way to help.

 

In early February, Oxford, Mississippi, was hit with a winter storm. Branches of trees, laden with ice, brought down power lines. The vicinity was without electricity, including The University of Mississippi, “Ole Miss.” After days of waiting for the lights and heat to come on, Angelica, from Chicago, Illinois, stepped in to do her part.

Dear Mayor Tannehill,

My name is Angelica and I am 7 years old. My big brother and big sister go to Ole Miss. I want to give you $5.00 out of my piggy bank to help turn on the electricity. I hope this helps. Good luck!

Love,

Angelica A.

 

May we, too, have tender hearts that are drawn to giving and helping others.

 

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

 

Being Noticed

Principal Michael Glynn, of Central Community Elementary School in Corinth, Maine, recently reported on an activity three of the fifth-grade teachers are doing. Every school day in February, Mrs. Dawe, Mrs. Hart, and Mrs. Poulin add a heart to each of their student’s lockers with a word that describes the person. It is not required. They choose to do so, “Because they believe kids should see proof, every single day, that someone notices who they are becoming. This is how confidence is built. This is how belonging is built. This is how kids become brave enough to be themselves.”

 

People at First Baptist Church of Conroe are collecting gently used formal dresses for their “Princess Gowns” event. The month before prom Junior and Senior young ladies of Montgomery County can go by the church, try on dresses, and select one to have at no cost.

 

Gladys, 67, has been the receptionist at Rosie’s Hair Salon for 16 years. She answers the phone, schedules appointments, and puts out magazines. Gladys also observes and listens. Mrs. Chen, 81, calls and makes hair appointments very six weeks. The day before she is to get her hair cut and styled, she calls and says something has come up and she cancels her appointment. The next time she called Gladys asked Mrs. Chen why she could not come. With tears she explained that after she paid the rent, bills, and bought food she didn’t have enough for her hair. When Gladys told Rosie, she was asked to call Mrs. Chen to come in for her appointment. After her haircut, there happened to be a computer glitch so she didn’t need to pay. Gladys started a quiet list, which was approved by Rosie. Mr. Phillips’ hands shook so much that he couldn’t get a clean shave. A young mother, who had just left a shelter, needed a haircut so she could interview for a job. Both were taken care of with no charge. When regular customers noticed, they began leaving donations for the fund. Mrs. Chen now comes to her appointment every six weeks. Last month, the new stylist, 23-years old, told Gladys, “My mom used to bring me here when I was little. We were so broke. But Rosie never charged us. I thought it was charity. It wasn’t charity, it was dignity. That’s why I became a hairstylist.” She then handed Gladys an envelope and said, “I want to sponsor one person a week forever.” Yes, she is the receptionist, but Gladys says, “People don’t just need services. They need to feel worth the effort. They need to feel seen.”

 

May we have perfect vision when it comes to helping others know they are seen.

 

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:35