Olympic Rings

After opening weekend, Team USA is chilling in sixth on Milan Cortina’s overall medal count.

Alpine skiing veteran Lindsey Vonn suffered a devastating crash 13 seconds into the Women’s downhill final—she was airlifted off the mountain with a broken left leg, ending her injury-plagued comeback attempt. Her fellow American Breezy Johnson took home gold, avoiding silver by just 4 hundredths of a second. 

On the rink, golden favorite Ilia Malinin landed the first legal Olympics backflip in 50 years (watch here), helping the Stars and Stripes narrowly overcome Japan for the figure skating team event gold.

Demonstrations punctuated the fun ‘n Games Saturday, with thousands protesting the environmental and economic impacts of Italy hosting the torch. Six people were arrested in Milan when demonstrations grew violent, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannons.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Olympic athletes experience disappointment and failure more often than victory. For every gold medalist, there are dozens who trained their hardest and didn’t make the podium. Believers in Jesus find purpose and hope beyond what we’re able to achieve. Our identity is not wrapped up in our successes; it’s found in seeking and knowing Him.

“If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more… But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Philippians 3:4, 7-8 (CSB) (read full passage)