Can you imagine spending your whole life pursuing a goal only to feel let down once you finally achieve it? What would you do? How would you handle such a disappointment? 

This experience is what happened to Jason, an athlete who was surprised when winning an Olympic medal in wrestling failed to match his expectations: 

“I thought becoming an Olympic champion would be the best time of my life,” he says, “But I had a feeling of emptiness after winning a gold medal.”

Although the Olympics mark the ultimate achievement in the career of an athlete, the experience is challenging in every way. There is the pressure to succeed as a lifetime of training culminates in one competition. There is also the reality that although many athletes compete, a relative few receive medals. And, as Jason shares, there is the unsettling feeling of dissatisfaction that some athletes face at the pinnacle of success. 

The bottom line is that even at the highest level, athletes are looking for hope that goes deeper than victory at the next competition. This is why Athletes in Action teams will be present in Tokyo this August, caring for athletes representing their countries at the 2021 Summer Olympics. 

In addition to engaging with Olympians, praying with them and discipling them in their faith, AIA chaplains will distribute “Struggle & Triumph Athlete’s Bibles” in four different languages. The “Struggle & Triumph Bible” is designed with athletes in mind, and features:

• Inspirational testimonies from Olympians and elite athletes
• Sport-themed devotionals to aid readers in growing their faith and understanding Scripture
• The “AIA Biblical Principles of Athletic Competition”
• Links to even more video testimonies from high-level athletes