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Posted on 08/11/2012 4:07:48 PM PDT by NYer
Edited on 08/12/2012 7:56:31 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
[snip]
.- Ethiopian athlete Meseret Defar provided one of the most emotional moments of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games when she crossed the finish line in the 5000 meter race to win the gold.
She then pulled a picture of the Virgin Mary out from under her jersey, showed it to the cameras and held it up to her face in deep prayer.
An Orthodox Christian, Defar entrusted her race to God with the sign of the cross and reached the finish line in 15:04:24, beating her fellow Ethiopian rival Tirunesh Dibaba, who was the favorite to win.
A teary-eyed Defar proudly showed the picture of the Virgin Mary with the Baby Jesus that she carried with her for the entire race.
Throughout the event, Defar kept pace with three other Ethiopian runners and three from Kenya, until speeding past them on the homestretch to win gold.
The silver medal went to Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya and the bronze to Dibaba.
Defar is also a two-time world champion in the 3000 meters. In Athens in 2004 she won the gold in the 5000 meters and in Beijing in 2008 she won the bronze.
On June 3, 2006 she broke the world record for the 5000 meters set previously by Turkish runner Elvan Abeylegesse, with a time of 14:24:53.
Not surprised. Mary went 90 from Nazareth to Bethlehem carrying a baby.
The lady runner crossed herself more than once before that race. I watched the whole thing and was quite pleased that she won. There are a whole lot of Africans blessing themselves before their events.
Good to see!
I think there is an interesting parallel with the 1936 Olympics. Just as Jesse Owens’ wins were a rebuke to Hitler’s racism in 1936, I think so many Olympic athletes witnessing their faith this year are a rebuke to Obama and the progressives who are doing everything they can to drive God and religion from the public square.
Maybe I’m being ridiculous but it really hit home to me when I saw that Ethiopian woman being such a witness to her faith. And amazingly enough, NBC didn’t cut away when she so proudly showed her image of the Madonna and Jesus.
Just my thoughts, FWIW.
I watched this race. She was not the favorite in this race. Her better known teammate from Ethiopia was the favorite, but at the very end of the race, she was the winner. Immediately after crossing the finish line, this woman began desperately tugging at something beneath her uniform. It was this picture of the madonna and child. She looked up in praise to God and began thanking Him for her win in this race.
She she looked straight at the camera and held that picture up so it could be clearly seen. She made sure everyone knew who she thanked for the win. I don’t know if she speaks a word of English but she made sure everyone knew who she felt was responsible for her winning the race.
I don’t think I will ever forget get it. Even with all the fantastic performances, all the medals, and all the stories of accomplishment, it is this young woman’s act of praise to God which truly impressed me. May God continue to bless her and save her country.
This is very nice. First event result that interested me.
I saw it too and I agree with you completely.
Again, I was completely surprised that NBC did not cut away from her bold witness.
Bookmark
I wish I could have seen it. I love Our Lady very much.
African Christians are very much on the front lines, taking a stand in spite of threats from Moslems, Marxists, or both. The spirit of the early Church is alive in Africa.
Plus also from our American althletes, heard a number of them having given God the glory after they have done their events and in a special way, those that won medals.
Heard a number of Team USA athletes giving their personal witness of their faith in Christ. It gave me confort.
Just happy also that in the interviews of any American medal winners, NBC did not decide to do the same thing, cut off.
Thanks for the post. Makes this heart swell.
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The West sent missionaries to Africa and now they are holding up the faith to and for us. Thank you Africa and thank you, Gold Medalist Meseret Defar!
Inspiring and Awesome
saw this as it happened yesterday- almost in tears...couldn’t believe it...i was on the phone with a Jewish friend of mine and told him, “a black woman from the Ethiopia who just won the gold medal in the 1500m just pulled out a picture of the Virgin Mother pinned under her singlet”...even my Jewish friend was impressed...
As far as the basketball team representing the US, I see it as a total farce.
I would rather that we lost games than have loaded teams of professionals, regardless if other countries do it or not.
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