A 16-year-old skateboarder from Brazil recently got a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and shared her Christian faith with the world afterward.
Rayssa Leal used her platform of competing on the world stage to share God's love with the world. After she placed third and won a bronze medal in the women's street skateboarding final on Sunday, she ASL to sign the Bible verse John 14:6. The verse says, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Leal was allegedly told she couldn't outwardly praise God during the Olympics, but instead of saying a thing, she signed her faith.
🔥🚨BREAKING: Rayssa Leal, a Catholic skater won a Bronze Medal at the Paris World Olympics and she allegedly was told she wasn’t allowed to praise Jesus Christ.
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) July 28, 2024
Leal responded by saying 'Jesus is the way, the truth and the life' in sign language to protest.
This is very… pic.twitter.com/j5XJQ83AFD
According to sources, French athletes competing in the Olympics are not allowed to display religious symbols, because of the country's secularism principle.
"For the Olympic Village, the IOC rules apply," an International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesperson told Reuters. "There are no restrictions on wearing the hijab or any other religious or cultural attire."
Leal has been skateboarding for most of her life. She became Brazil's youngest Olympian when at just 13 years old she took the silver medal home in the skateboarding street competition.
"When I was very young, I dreamed of becoming a skateboard athlete," Leal told reporters at CNN. "And here I am, with a second Olympic medal from the games. Once again, thank God I won a medal. I'm very happy to be here."
On her Instagram, Leal posted her excitement of winning, while praising God.
"On top of the world. All honour and glory be to God."