God and the Olympics

Whether listening to them give glory to God, or watching them pray before or after events, it’s hard to miss the obvious role that faith plays in the lives of many Olympic athletes.  Hard for everyone except the national news media.  The fact that the media has gone out of its way to avoid the focus on faith that so many athletes are willing to talk about when given the chance, has become a story unto itself.

When it is covered, I notice that more often that not, it is in local news outlets or publications. Here are a few links of stories, primarily in religious publications and outlets, in which athletes or their families speak about the importance of their faith, or at least their faith is showcased:

‘Joey and me’: How faith and community helped Joanna Kovacs-Royer raise a U.S. Olympian

Olympic triple jumper asks God: ‘How did this happen?’ 

God, religion and the Olympic games.

Of course we have stories about Michael Phelp’s conversion, and the other side of the Olympic Titan Duo, Usain Bolt’s ubiquitous prayers and praising of God.  Again, in most cases, the stories find their way into religious publications.  I don’t think I’ve seen an interview or segments on the national news that has referenced either.  Not saying there hasn’t been any, but I’ve not seen them.

Two of the superstar sensations, the jaw dropping Simone Biles (Catholic and  homeschooled), and the Usain Bolt of women’s swimming, Katie Ledecky (also devout Catholic), were given the spotlight in several stories about their prowess, their lives, and their inspirations, but again you’d have to go to religious publications for the most part to find out the role that faith has played in their lives.

For that matter, here is an article about athletes who simply share their faith openly in a way that would make Tim Tebow proud.  Again, a religious publication.

On the other hand, Get Religion has been watching the coverage, or lack thereof, by the press when it comes to the faith of the Olympians.  In a revealing instance, the Washington Post did a spotlight on Ms. Ledecky, giving a nod to her high school.  Problem?  The Article broke journalistic standards by not giving the full name of her High School in the first mention: Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart.  Despite the fact that it is SOP to mention the entire name of an institution, well, I’ll let you guess which parts of the high school’s name weren’t mentioned.

GR even questioned why the much publicized issues with Gabby Douglas never got around to mentioning her faith.  Can’t imagine why.

Perhaps the most glaring instance of the media religion blackout was the inspiring story of US runner Abbey D’Agostino stopping mid-race to help fellow runner Nikki Hamblin with whom she had collided.  That is the meat and drink of media feel good stories.  The type of thing you expect to see mentioned for the rest of the Olympics and for months to come.  Heck, commercial ad campaigns have featured similar good news stories from of old.  And yet, after the day it happened, we’ve had virtually no mention.  A couple afterthought references, and that’s about it.  No specials.  No interview tours.  No commercials that I’m aware of.  Perhaps this gives us insight into why?  Hard to say.  But it is worth noting.

I should mention this is all based on general trends.  I’m not saying no media outlet has done a story about the athletes and the positive role of faith in their lives.  It’s simply the discrepancy between those stories run in religious publications that demonstrate the importance of faith in the lives of various celebrity athletes versus coverage in the mainstream press.  But I’m sure there are stories in the MSM nonetheless.  Just like this fine piece in Time zeroing in on the positive impact of religious faith in the lives of three Olympians.