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Yemisi Ogunleye press conference (Screenshot: The Kurt Carr/Facebook)
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Yemisi Ogunleye, centre, encouraged Christians around the world when she sang a gospel song during a press conference at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Screenshot: The Kurt Carr/Facebook)
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Yemisi Ogunleye may have won a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but she put Jesus front and centre on the podium.

The Nigerian-born, German shotputter won gold on Friday, August 9, 2024. It was Germany's first gold in the event in 28 years.

Ogunleye has been very open about her Christian faith in the past, sharing about how faith has helped her through setbacks like a serious knee injury. And, in the moments after her win, she put her faith on full display again.

A journalist asked Ogunleye if it was true she sings in a gospel choir, and what song was going through her mind after the victory.

"After falling (in celebration) I went back to my seat and I sang a song. It means 'I almost let go.'" 

Not only did Ogunleye name the song, but then she spent a full minute singing part of the song which speaks of how Jesus held the singer through difficult times. 

The song, "I Almost Let Go" is 20 years old. Gospel singer Kurt Carr recorded the song in 2004 for WOW Gospel 2004.

Carr took to social media on the weekend, sharing video of Ogunleye's performance, saying, "You better tell the world Yemisi Ogunleye." 

Carr went on to quote part of the song, writing, "'He kept me, so I wouldn’t let go.' Thank you for letting your light shine and showing the world your love of God. Congrats on winning a gold medal for Germany in shotput."

Thousands of people have commented on the video, thanking Ogunleye for encouraging them in their own faith journey.

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