“Are you Usain Bolt’s nephew?!” I joked enthusiastically.
Usain Bolt, the multiple Olympic medal-winning track runner from Jamaica, was the subject of my jest.
I have a good amount of experience with athletes, starting with my own background playing NCAA Division 2 baseball and then having spent two years as a FOCUS Varsity Catholic missionary serving student athletes.
Yet, despite my background, approaching and conversing with an Olympic athlete made me nervous.
We sent four Varsity Catholic missionaries to the Olympics in Paris as a means of spiritual outreach and support for athletes. Read the full story by CNA here!
I posed the question to him because he was clad in Team Jamaica attire. Given Jamaica’s track record with track athletes, my assumption that he was a Jamaican track runner proved correct.
He chuckled, showing interest in engaging further.
After some initial inquiries about his name and event, clarifying that I was not an athlete but rather a missionary at the Games (a topic my former athlete teammates and I frequently discussed), I dove in:
“What has your Olympic experience been like so far?”
This opened the floodgates for him to share his mixed emotions—excitement about being an Olympian, nerves stemming from no longer holding the top spot in his event after a year, and uncertainty about his future performance and emotions.
In response, I empathized, acknowledging the reality of those feelings.
I then asked a rhetorical question:
“Don’t you think there’s something wrong with feeling such shame simply from not winning a race?”
From my service as a FOCUS Varsity Catholic missionary at the Paris 2024 Olympics, I gleaned three significant insights:
1. We are undeniably made for a purpose.
The dedication and sacrifice of these athletes, and the global attention on their performance every four years, underscore that there’s something profound at stake beyond mere medals. Our pursuit of excellence reflects a deeper longing for meaning and purpose.
2. Olympians are receptive to the Gospel.
Prior to my missionary work, I might have assumed athletes needed the Gospel, but I now know they desire it too. Through conversations like the one with the athlete, I saw their recognition of a need beyond athletic achievement—a need for God and His Gospel.
3. Our deepest issues aren’t solved by circumstances alone.
My athlete friend’s experience of losing highlighted that even success can’t fill the void in our hearts meant for God. While striving for excellence is commendable, true fulfillment comes from pursuing virtue through God.
By engaging with Olympic athletes as a Catholic missionary, I discovered that behind their achievements lies a universal search for purpose and fulfillment—something only God can satisfy.
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Additional Resources
Find more personal stories like this on our blog. 2024 has been full of exciting events, including the National Eucharistic Congress. Enjoy this story from one of our staff who attended!
For even more great Catholic resources, check out our podcast, which features talks from our SEEK conference, and our YouTube channel for videos and more!
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