Olympic Gold Medalist Keeps God Priority No. 1
By Movieguide® Contributor
Olympic gold medalist Hunter Armstrong credits God for his swimming success.
Last week, the Team USA star swam the 400-meter freestyle relay with a time of 46.75 seconds, helping secure the team’s gold medal.
“I definitely didn’t expect it. I just went in. I would give my entire body and soul up for these boys. I knew I had to give Caeleb everything I had, and so I was glad I was able to get my job done,” Armstrong said.
“The American quartet of Jack Alexy, Chris Guiliano, Hunter Armstrong and Caeleb Dressel won the gold medal in dominant fashion, touching the wall in 3:09.28,” the Olympics reported.
Armstrong told the Baptist Press that God is his priority, and he gives all credit to Him.
“That’s the first thing I want people to see and know about me,” Armstrong said. “As we grow, we have to make sure we have our priorities in line. I keep God as a priority. I can’t really live without Him. I can live without swimming or being an Olympian or any of that stuff.”
Armstrong, who specializes in the backstroke, said that his relationship with God wasn’t always at the forefront in his life like it is now.
“I feel like in past years I’ve been sort of on the edge of it,” he said. “When I’m in competition, I’ll pray, and that will last for a little bit. Church camp, same kind of thing. But as soon as I didn’t need him anymore, it would fade.”
After several personal tragedies, including the death of his grandfather, Armstrong grew closer to the Lord.
“The biggest catalyst for change in life tends to be pain,” Armstrong said. “Sometimes God will put you in a position where you have no other choice than to turn to Him. That’s been the biggest change that I’ve made this year. I promised at (world championships) that if He would help me get out of this, then I would embrace it.”
Armstrong’s Instagram bio reads “GOD FIRST,” a principle he openly holds to and encourages others to do so as well.
Movieguide® previously reported on Armstrong:
Olympic gold medal swimmer Hunter Armstrong is sharing how he brings his faith to the pool.
“Every time I swim, I point up to the sky because it’s God first. Like none of this matters without Him, and you know, it got to the point where…it became a habit, just part of the pre-race ritual, and I didn’t like that,” Armstrong said on the “Sports Spectrum” podcast.
He explained that while sends up a quick prayer before every race, he doesn’t necessarily do it after if he doesn’t win, a habit he changed going into the 2024 World Championship.
“That was something that I made an effort toward this year is you don’t only accept everything that comes with it when you win,” Armstrong continued. “You can’t be upset and be like, ‘Oh shoot. He didn’t answer my prayer.’ Because that’s where things get shady.”
“Michael [Phelps] was racing against me in the fifty back at Worlds,” he said. “Like we’re both praying. Not to necessarily win. I’ve sort of changed my prayer because I don’t want to ever say, ‘Please God, let me win.’”
“My prayer before every race is, ‘Give me the strength to do my best and may whatever I do bring glory to your name,’” he revealed.
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