A Brazilian skateboarder praised the Lord after winning a medal in Paris
While many Christians expressed outrage at what they perceived to be the mockery of Christian symbolism celebrated during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, Christian athletes like 16-year-old Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal are using their visibility to celebrate their faith.
After winning the bronze medal in the women’s street skateboarding final at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, Leal celebrated by using sign language to quote John 14:6, according to a video shared on X by Dom Lucre.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,'” the scripture text reads.
Although French Olympians are prohibited from displaying religious symbols while representing France due to the country’s secularism principle, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintains that athletes in Paris can express their personal faith, national identity, and cultural heritage.
“In the Olympic Village, IOC rules are in effect,” an IOC spokesperson told Reuters. “There are no restrictions on wearing the hijab or any other religious or cultural attire.”
Leal’s global fame began to rise after skateboarding legend Tony Hawk shared a video on X of her performing “a fairytale heelflip” dressed as a blue fairy princess when she was seven years old.
Source: christianpost.com
