Olympic rules discourage competitors from making religious statements or demonstrations during competition, but as 16-year-old Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal won a bronze medal in the women’s street skateboarding final on July 28, she refused to comply with those rules.
Rule 50 of the International Olympic Committee charter which stresses the importance “that we keep the venues, the Olympic Village, and the podium neutral and free from any form of political, religious, or ethnic demonstrations.” But Leal took a creative approach to going around those rules and sharing a Bible verse anyway.
At one point during the competition, Leal smiled into the camera and signed John 14:6, a Bible verse that reads, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
After the event, Leal explained the move.
“I did it because I do it in every competition,” Leal told the Brazilian media outlet UOL, according to the Catholic News Agency.
“For me it is important; I am Christian, I believe a lot in God,” she stated. “There I asked for strength and sent a message to everyone, that God really is the way, the truth, and the life.”
Needless to say, this sparked a lot of conversation on social media.
Jesus is the truth https://t.co/xBhIyZifl7
— Blifeee (@ItsBLifee) July 30, 2024
A boldness for Jesus is overcoming this country. https://t.co/6YP4z0xrjq
— 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐞 (@somemixedchickk) July 29, 2024
Absolutely beautiful https://t.co/CjW87hQFSL
— 🌟𝕊𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕖🌟 (@Soulmination) July 31, 2024
lovely girl! https://t.co/Va2m97z5ZW
— Grazie Pozo Christie, M.D. (@GChristiemd) July 29, 2024
wow
I LOVE THIS 🙌🏻🙌🏻 https://t.co/qJD70RwER3
— eve (@eveforamerica) July 30, 2024
Bold for Christ! God Bless her! Love to see it!
— Brotha K (@KessenaO) July 29, 2024
The Way.
The Truth.
And The Life.— Brock 🇺🇸 (@BrocktheCEO) July 30, 2024
Clearly, she took a stand for her faith.
