Strength Beyond the Field: How Paris 2024’s Shot Put Gold Medalist Balances Faith and Sport

The Paris 2024 Olympics spotlighted extraordinary athletes, but few stories shone as brightly as that of the women’s German shot put gold medalist Yemisi Ogunleye. The beautiful 6-foot tall 26-year-old athlete is the daughter of a German mother and a Nigerian father. She is also a Gospel singer who speaks perfect English in her Forbes interview after her gold medal win in Paris. She burst into song, describing how her faith in Jesus inspired her to keep going after she fell in the competition_—and she won with a 20.00-metre shot put in the final round.

A Unique Journey to the Podium

Training at the track club in Mannheim, Germany, Ogunleye won a silver medal in the 2024 world indoor championships (Glasgow) a bronze in the 2024 European championships (Rome), and capped it all with her gold medal shot put in the Paris Olympic Games.

Faith as Fuel

Subjected to racial bullying and violence growing up, she gained strength from to her faith. This gave her the resilience to conquer any obstacle.

During her interview, she shared how her faith shaped her journey to the Olympics, saying, “In both music and sports, I see God’s hand guiding me. When I feel like giving up, I turn to my faith, and it reminds me why I’m here.”

A Champion’s Message to the World In a world where elite sports are often about high stakes and fierce competition, this gold medalist offers a fresh perspective. She reminds us that faith and success are not mutually exclusive. Instead, her story shows we can create a legacy that inspires others to pursue their passion while honoring their faith.

Image credits: Ogunleye at the 2022 German Indoor Athletics Championships by Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0.