Baptist Press Blog

ESPN's Reilly writes about Napier

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:35:00 CST

U.S. bobsledder John Napier, profiled Feb. 19 in BP, was the subject of a column from ESPN's Rick Reilly.

"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."

Pac, Meyers win bronze in women's bobsled

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:12:00 CST

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.”

Pac, Meyers in second after first two heats

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:45:00 CST

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.

For more on Pac and Meyers, visit Pac's official Web site and Meyers' official site and her blog. Meyers is also on Twitter.

Napier finishes 10th in two-man bobsled

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:43:00 CST

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.

Marsicano overcomes life-threatening injury

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:49:00 CST

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.

Read about Marsicano's testimony at Beyond the Ultimate, and see another story about him on About.com's Christianity page. You can also follow him on Twitter and read his blog. (Photo by David G. McIntyre/Genesis Photo)

Another Olympic chaplain

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:14:00 CST

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.

Record day for U.S. team

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:08:00 CST

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.

Rebekah Bradford, Kelly Clark stories

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:45:00 CST

Today's Baptist Press includes three Olympics stories:

Buoyed by 2nd chances in speedskating & with God

A skater's 'extra grace'

Faith made Kelly Clark's snowboarding 'a lot more free'

Photos from the Olympics

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:52:00 CST

Check out some photo galleries from Vancouver:
Opening Ceremony photos
Speedskating photos
Hockey photos
Figure skating photos

Hedrick sheds bad-boy image at Olympics

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:12:00 CST

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.

Visit Chad's official Web site at www.chadhedrick.com.