It’s always refreshing when Olympic athletes boldly share their faith in front of the world. But it’s a whole different ball game when they start singing about Jesus during an Olympic press conference, which is exactly what Yemisi Ogunleye of Germany did after winning the gold medal in the women’s shot put competition at the Paris Olympics.
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The viral moment came as the 25-year-old, who sings in a gospel choir at home, described her experience during the competition that included a fall in the first round due to the rainy conditions.
“After falling, I went back to my seat and I sang a song… It goes like this,” she explained to those in attendance before belting out the lyrics to “I Almost Let Go,” by gospel singer Kurt Carr.
“I almost let go. I was right at the edge of a breakthrough but couldn’t see it. The devil really had me, but Jesus came and grabbed me. He held me close, so I wouldn’t let go. God’s mercy kept me, so I wouldn’t let go. So I’m here today because God kept me. I’m alive today only because of His grace. Oh, He kept me. God kept me. God’s mercies kept me so I wouldn’t let go,” she sang.
Those in attendance were stunned and immediately burst into applause after Ms. Ogunleye finished singing. But viewers around the world cheered as well as a video of the moment racked up tens of thousands of views and shares, including from Kurt Carr himself, and big names like former NFL player Benjamin Watson and Samaritan’s Purse CEO Franklin Graham.
“Olympic gold medal winner Yemisi Ogunleye stuns the press with a beautiful song about how Jesus Christ has kept her,” Mr. Graham wrote on X. “She sings, ‘I’m alive today because of His grace.’ Thank you for not being ashamed of His Name Yemisi!
Olympic gold medal winner Yemisi Ogunleye stuns the press with a beautiful song about how Jesus Christ has kept her. She sings, “I’m alive today because of His grace.” Thank you for not being ashamed of His Name Yemisi! pic.twitter.com/yfxOApOiZN
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 11, 2024
The Olympics marked Ms. Ogunleye’s greatest international showing to-date, after previously winning the silver medal at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.
“My goal coming here was 20 metres,” said Ms. Ogunleye. “That was the distance that I threw just once in Glasgow [at the World Athletics Indoor Championships]. I knew I was capable of throwing such distances. In Olympic competitions, it is necessary to bring all the best you have because you only have this chance once.”
Following her victory on the Paris track, cameras also caught the athlete holding up a sign that read, “You are loved. John 3:16.”
Yesterday, Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye won the gold medal in the women’s shot put event at the #Paris2024 Olympics and displayed “YOU ARE LOVED, JOHN 3:16”
— SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) (@Sports_Doctor2) August 10, 2024
CHRIST IS KING 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/CXeSLuGED8
“I was just saying a prayer,” she recalled of the critical minutes before her clutch final throw that won it all. “It was the moment when I knew that if I have the faith, I am capable of doing more than I can think or ask for. In that moment, I just took all the energy that had left and just put it out there.”
To hear more of Ms. Ogunleye’s soulful voice, check out her YouTube page, which includes a cover of “Even When it Hurts” by Hillsong Worship.
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Marissa Mayer is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her work has been featured in Christian Post, The Daily Signal, and Intellectual Takeout. Mayer has a B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Arizona State University.
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