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‘I’m a Child of God’: Olympian Elisabeth Vathje Explains Why Jesus, Not Winning, is Her First Priority

Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images For IBSF
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images For IBSF
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By Billy Hallowell
Editor

February 15, 2018

One of the most fascinating dynamics to emerge from this year’s Olympics are the triumphant spiritual stories that so many of the athletes have been openly sharing — stories of overcoming the odds, relying on God and finding identity in Christ.

READ: Mike Pence Reacts to Joy Behar’s Claim That It’s a Mental Illness to Believe ‘Jesus Talks to You’

Among those sharing these uplifting informational bits is Canadian skeleton racer Elisabeth Vathje, who opened up to the Baptist Press about her Christian faith, proclaiming that it is the most important thing in her life.

“First and foremost, I’m a child of God. I’m not a skeleton athlete or any of that,” she said. “It doesn’t matter my profession, but Jesus is still my Lord, and that’s what’s first in everything I do.”

Perhaps the most noteworthy comments Vathje made were about identity and her value and worth as a human being — sentiments that she said are firmly embedded in her faith in Jesus and not her standing as an athlete.

“I know that regardless of what I do on the track, that I’m still loved by God and that it takes every single pressure away — because I know God is giving me success,” she said. “But I know that even if the success doesn’t come, it doesn’t change the way God sees me and the way I should see Him.”

Vathje continued, “So, it gives me peace in that I don’t have to fight for results for my worth.”

Despite her crazy travel schedule, Vathje keeps in touch with her home church through her mom, who sends prayer requests out to the congregation. She relies so much on these parishioners that she said she couldn’t do the sport without them.

It’s clear that Vathje keeps her priorities in order, too, as the first item in her Twitter bio is “Christ follower.” Vathje will compete in Olympic skeleton racing on Friday and Saturday.

Read more about Vathje here.

As Faithwire previously reported, other Olympians have also openly discussed their Christian faith of late, including American figure skaters Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim  —  a husband and wife duo. The two have spoken out about how their faith helped them overcome a difficult health challenge and persevere to compete in this year’s games.

(H/T: Baptist Press)

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