Published: August 22, 2024
Olympic Swimmer Puts His ‘Relationship with Jesus’ Over Winning Gold
By Movieguide® Contributor
British swimmer and 2024 Paris Olympian Adam Peaty wasn’t able to clinch his third consecutive gold medal this year, but for him, there’s something way more important than that.
Peaty missed gold by 0.02 seconds in the 100-meter breaststroke. But he would “rather have my faith and my relationship with Jesus and come second than have gold,” he said.
Before the games, Peaty wrote on his social media, “My Third Olympic Games are nearly underway. I’m excited to race with the hard work and commitment that we have put in over the course of the last year. Thank you to all those who have believed in me along the way and those who have also challenged me to become a better athlete, friend, partner and father. I couldn’t have given an ounce more to my preparation for this moment and in that, I find peace.”
Peaty also included Hebrews 12:1-2, which read:
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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
That peace carried him through the Olympic games as he garnered a silver medal.
“A night full of raw emotion and sport in its true form,” he said after the event. “These last 14 months have been incredibly testing and I do not regret one training session or decision I made. I’ve continued to fight and find new ways to enjoy something that has broken me to the core and to end up with an Olympic silver through all of that is an absolute blessing. I’m more proud of the man and athlete I am from last night than I have been across my entire career.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Peaty’s journey through swimming:
In the Tokyo Olympics, Peaty won gold in the 100m backstroke. He later broke his foot, sending the athlete into a downward spiral.
He battled with “alcohol abuse and mental health, and he was diagnosed with depression and ADHD. He also faced relational strife with the mother of his now-3-year-old son, George.”
However, they seem to have reconciled, and Peaty shared a sweet moment with George after the race when he told his dad that he loved him.
“Anyone who has got kids will know, you love them with all your life,” Peaty told BBC. “You have these moments where you have to prove yourself, and I think I proved myself tonight.”
“I did this for my son. These whole 14 months have been to show you can literally bottom of the bottom and come back and medal,” he said.
Watch THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE →
Watch IT’S THE SMALL THINGS, CHARLIE BROWN →