Ten times the U.S. athletes got the lap of Istanbul as overall winners of their events. Nine with its flag, and with Bible in hand.
MARCH 12, 2012, TURKEY
United States broke the record for golds in the history of the athletics competition indoors. Ten times did the U.S. athletes triumphant return to the blue track of Istanbul as winners of their respective tests. Nine with the Stars and Stripes waving in its wake, and one with a Bible in his hand.
A symbol of undisputed mastery of his team in a World Indoor and exhibited in Daegu last summer outdoors and now confirmed in Istanbul indoors.
Never in the history of the competition, born in 1985, got a country, nor the powerful Russia of his time, which he did last weekend Turkish American team, a harvest of 10 gold medals.
The nine who celebrated their gold medal with the U.S. flag in the wind as they surrounded the court were Lagat (3000m), Sanya Richards (400m), Gatlin (60m), Merritt (60m hurdles), Lowe (height), Reese ( length), Whiting (weight), Eaton (heptathlon) and over.
To celebrate the tenth there was no flag, but a Bible, a symbol perhaps equivalent to many Americans: the true kingdom is not of this world, but you're in the middle of it.
In particular was Will Claye, an evangelical Christian and a great triple jumper of 20, who after winning the competition with 17.70 meters (personal best and world season) turned to the track with a large Bible, blue and worn , widely read in the right hand. It did the same when it was bronze in Korea in 2011,
Claye and recalled the gesture of another athlete evangelical Baptist pastor Forrest Custer Smithson, Oregon, who ran and won the 110 meters hurdles of the first Games of London, 1908, carrying a Bible in his left hand.
Although there is a difference. Claye's gesture has occurred in Turkey, where there is still an important faction of Islamic radicals.
THE BIBLE IN THE HEART
Reading the Will Claye twitter can read in your profile: "I am a believer, (...) God is in control."
And does your faith and the importance given to God, even above their sporting successes. For example, these days, before his victory, tweeted "I could not receive recognition or awards in the world, but I know I will get the reward of God for his grace"
And quoting a biblical text of genuine evangelical faith, he writes: "All the promises of God are obtained through faith ... and only by faith". It is run with a Bible in his hand when he wins. It always runs in the heart.
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