"Sometimes, in the middle of all the commercialism and politics and cynicism that are sports and life today, you meet someone who squirts a bottle of seltzer in your face. Napier -- brave, naïve and full of honor -- is that for me," Reilly writes. "Because whatever your opinion is of the Olympics and of war, you cannot help but be proud that a man like him is wearing your flag in both." Read More...
Pac, Meyers win bronze in women's bobsled February 25, 2010
- 9:12:00 AM
The U.S. bobsled team of Erin Pac and Elana Meyers won a bronze medal Wednesday, the first medal for the United States in any of the sliding sports in this year’s Olympics.
“It’s all divine,” said Meyers, the brakeman. “It’s all God-driven. That’s something the both of us share is our strong faith. It took a lot of constant prayer. … Three years is a long time … and we’ve been through a lot of stuff and God has brought us through that and it’s been amazing and He’s been amazing.” Read More...
Pac, Meyers in second after first two heats February 24, 2010
- 8:45:00 AM
U.S. bobsledders Erin Pac and Elana Meyers, featured in Tueday's BP, are in second place after the first two heats. The team's combined time of 1:46.33 is just .13 seconds off the first place mark set by Canadians Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse. The final two heats in the competition are set for tonight.
Napier finishes 10th in two-man bobsled February 22, 2010
- 12:43:00 PM
U.S. bobsled pilot John Napier and his brakeman Steven Langton finished in 10th place in the two-man competition. Napier is also a relatively new Christian, and was recently baptized by pastor Derek Spain at Lake Placid Baptist Church in Lake Placid, N.Y.
“I’m ecstatic about the finish of the race and how everything went,” Napier said. “I’ve had more fun here than I’ve ever had in my life. We raced well, we pushed well. I made a bunch of mistakes driving, but hopefully we can use it all as practice, and hopefully the Lord gives me the skills and form to pull together some successful runs and maybe get a medal for the guys (in the four-man event). ”
Napier will compete again in the four-man bobsled competition Feb. 26-27.Visit his Web site at www.johnnapier.us. Read More...
Marsicano overcomes life-threatening injury February 18, 2010
- 1:49:00 PM
U.S. speedskater Trevor Marsicano has rebounded from a life- and career-threatening injury suffered in a short-track race in 2004 when a competitor fell and his skate cut Marsicano's leg to the bone. A significant loss of blood nearly cost him his life. Now a long-track skater, Marsicano has already raced twice in Vancouver, finishing 10th in the 1,000 meters and 14th in the 5,000 meters. He still has the 1,500 meters coming up Feb. 20 and the team pursuit beginning Feb. 26.
Another Olympic chaplain February 18, 2010
- 1:14:00 PM
Steve Sellers, of Canmore, Alberta, Canada, is serving as one of the chaplains for the Olympics. You can keep up with his activities on his blog. Read More...
Record day for U.S. team February 18, 2010
- 1:08:00 PM
Yesterday the U.S. team set a record by winning six medals in one day -- the most ever for U.S. athletes in the Winter Olympics. Lindsey Vonn took gold in the women's downhill while Julia Mancuso won silver. In the men's 1,000 meters speedskating, Shani Davis won gold while Chad Hedrick took bronze (today's BP will have a story about that event). Then last night, Shaun White won gold and Scoty Lago got the bronze in the men's halfpipe.
The previous single-day record came Feb. 20, 2002, in Salt Lake City when the U.S. team won five medals. Read More...
Hedrick sheds bad-boy image at Olympics February 17, 2010
- 1:12:00 PM
Houston Chronicle reporter David Barron wrote a good story about U.S. speedskater Chad Hedrick a few days ago. Hedrick competes this afternoon in the men's 1,000 meters, the second of four events in which he'll be racing in Vancouver.
Bradford: It's about His kingdom February 16, 2010
- 12:45:00 AM
U.S. speedskater Rebekah Bradford, in a blog for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, writes about coming to faith in Christ and what's important to her as she prepares to compete in Vancouver. "Today I was reminded that it isn't about the gold, it's about God's kingdom," Bradford writes. "It's about how I perform as God's child, my integrity of an Olympian and the love people allow me to share."
I'll have a couple of stories about Bradford in BP on Wednesday. Follow her on Twitter. Read More...
Poutala finishes fifth in men's 500 meters February 15, 2010
- 10:05:00 PM
Speedskater Mika Poutala, of Finland, was raised in a Christian family and became a Christian when he was 9 years old. He has done some preaching and says he may enter the ministry when his speedskating career is over.
One episode from Poutala’s life stands out when he thinks about what God has done for him.
“When I was maybe 15, 16 years old, we have a training on Friday evening,” Poutala said. “At the same time we have our youth evening at the church. One time I decided that I don’t want to train any more Fridays. I said to my coach that I can’t train on Fridays because I want to go to church.
“After that I started to improve a lot more than I had improved before that,” he continued. “So I think that was the turning point for my speedskating career. I know God blessed that decision.”
Poutala finished fifth in the men’s 500 meters Feb. 15 in Vancouver. He led after the first race, but finished 12th in the second race. His combined times left him in fifth place. Read More...
The majesty of the mountains February 15, 2010
- 9:01:00 PM
This afternoon I made the trek from Vancouver, where I've been since I arrived on Thursday, up to Whistler in the mountains. The trip gave me an opportunity to see some gorgeous scenery, and to dwell upon the majesty of God that the mountains proclaim. What a glorious, creative God to provide His people with such a beautiful world.
Tomorrow I'm going to meet up with Derek Spain, a Southern Baptist pastor who's serving as one of the chaplains to the athletes based here in Whistler.
