Gold Medalist Credits God for Strength
CBNNews.com
August 22, 2008
CBNNews.com - Track and field star Stephanie Brown Trafton is bringing home the gold medal in the women's discus competition - a win many consider a huge upset victory or the United States.
Four years ago, Brown Trafton did not even make it to the finals in Athens. Her win in Beijing marked the first time in 76 years that an American has won the gold medal in the women's competition.
Brown Trafton, a Christian, told reporters that God gave her the strength to throw the discus an amazing 212 feet, five inches to win her medal on the first throw. Off the field, she leads Bible studies for other athletes at the Olympic Village.
But Brown Trafton recently told Baptist Press she did not always have confidence in her athletic abilities. She wasn't even sure she would even make the U.S. team to get to go to Beijing, much less compete for a medal.
"God put in my heart one of the most commonly used phrases by Christian athletes -- one that I had been ignoring for a long time," Trafton said.
That verse was Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
Trafton said the word "can" in that verse jumped out at her.
"I realized that Christ has the ability to make the impossible possible in my life," she said. "I believe now that I can do the things that He has placed in my path while looking to Him for strength.
Track Stars
The U.S. track and field team also added to the overall American medal tally on Monday.
Angelo Taylor won his second gold medal in the men's 400 hurdles and finished ahead of fellow teammates Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson. Jenn Stuczynski earned a silver medal in the pole vault.
American athletes still hold the lead in the overall Olympic medal count. The U.S. has 79. China holds 76.
The last time an American won the discus event was back in 1932 when Lillian Copeland out threw the world to win Olympic gold.
Sources: Yahoo! Sports, ABC News, Baptist Press
*Original posting August 19, 2008.
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