Set 

For much of my life, I bowed at the feet of gods fashioned of gold, silver and bronze.

My sole focus was to become an Olympic champion. I was going to win, and I would revel in the fame and the celebrity it brought.

In 2004, I qualified for the Beijing Olympics. It was a dream come true.

Except it was more of a nightmare. It nearly ruined my life.

My synchronized diving partner and I failed to make the podium early in the Beijing Olympics, and that was a reality check. I decided to invest everything in my individual event a few days later.

My poor results from a few days prior, hurt even more when I finished in a disappointing 10^th place in the individual event. I felt as though I’d let down my team, my parents, and everyone who had invested in me. I felt like a complete and utter failure.

That’s what happens when your god betrays you. The Olympics – and my poor performances there – didn’t supply me with any joy or provide the happiness I thought they were going to bring.

I decided to get a fresh start at Purdue.

Being an Olympian on campus temporarily gave me the fame and glory I craved from those around me, but that satisfaction was fleeting and my life continued to feel so empty.

I went to my coach looking for a quick fix. Instead, he gave me Jesus.

Over the weeks ahead, I began learning more about the Bible, about Christ and who He was. That’s when my life totally transformed. I realized that God had given me this ability and platform for a specific reason: to bring Him glory.

In 2012, I once again made the Olympic team. This time, I went to London desperately seeking to honor the Lord. It was there that my faith-filled performance earned me the Olympic Gold Medal in the 10 meter platform diving competition.

I tell my story not to say that God will automatically give us what we want if we make Him the priority. I tell it instead to explain that God is a gracious, loving Father who lavishes His love and blessings upon His people. When I was desperately chasing everything other than God, He loved and pursued me anyway.

Now He has given my life a new meaning and purpose, and a heart that wants to know Him and make Him known. The platform God’s given me to do that from is diving. And it’s from there that I share with others that He alone is the One who is mighty to save.