Religion In Sports
Religion and Sports
In the midst of the excitement, anxiety, and pressure of their performance ahead, the athlete takes a moment to themselves (or sometimes with their teammates) to pray. This scene is all too familiar to many sports enthusiasts, where, especially amongst collegiate and professional athletes, religion plays an increasingly prominent role within sports.
With a population whose majority identifies with a religion, it is natural that religious gestures are common, but what role does religion play for athletes? Along with their personal beliefs, the prominence of religion can be attributed to the support and guidance that religion evokes for the athlete, rather than the notion of simply wishing for victory. Religion can foster hope and internal strength, where by embracing their faith, athletes are able to trust and rely on their religious figure or figures, for example, God, to guide them down the right path. In prioritizing their relationship with religion, many are able to look past the black-and-white of the game–winning and losing–in place of humility, kindness, forgiveness, and strength. For many, religion is a source of empowerment, provides a purpose, and inspires athletes to be great both on and off the game, from times of triumph to times of adversity. In Syndey Mclaughin’s case, her faith in God allowed her to “let go of fear in face of the biggest pressure of her career.” In many other cases, like in Stephen Curry’s, religion serves as a source of bonding, where his teammates have been able to form and attend a discipleship group together, as well as chapel sessions.
In the face of religious customs; which include clothing restrictions, periods of fasting, religious holidays, etc; many athletes have been tasked with finding a balance between meeting religious expectations and demands in their sport. Decisions are often made carefully and with the guidance of religious figures. In Hakeem Olajuwon’s scenario, he maintained his fast during Ramadan while playing in the NBA, continuing this for 18 competitive seasons. Despite not being able to eat or drink from sunrise to sunset, he continued to dominate his performance, noting that he even felt more energetic and explosive during Ramadan; that instead of food, his spiritual mindset from fasting gave him all the stamina he needed.
While taking photos of a fellow track teammate, I noticed that each time before getting into their blocks, they made a distinct gesture–signing of the cross. When I asked Emmanual Garcia about it, he stated that praying was a way to be close to Jesus and God, “letting God and Jesus… inside [his] body and give [him] strength to do [his] best and [to help him] get through the race.” He also noted that it was a way to show appreciation to the Lord, who “gave [him] the gift to live and run.” Praying is unique to the individual, and for Garcia, it was a way to show his “love towards God and Jesus, asking for strength, and just being blessed to be there.”
Sources:
Staff, SS360. Religion in Sports. 18 Sept. 2020, https://www.sportsspeakers360.com/blog/religion-in-sports#:~:text=Whether%20it’s%20the%20sign%20of,and%20believe%20is%20their%20choice. Accessed 30 Tervalon, Jinghuan Liu. “Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Found Faith On Her Journey to Gold.” Women's Running, 29 Jan. 2024, https://www.womensrunning.com/culture/people/sydney-mclaughlin-levrone-found-faith-on-her-journey-to-gold/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Lisi, Clemente. “Faith Helps Drive Steph Curry And The Golden State Warriors in NBA Title Quest.” Religion Unplugged, 13 June 2022, https://religionunplugged.com/news/2022/6/13/nba-finals-2022-faith-helps-drive-steph-curry-and-the-golden-state-warriors-in-title-quest. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Tan, John Jefferson. “‘I Always Felt Stronger and More Energetic during Ramadan’ - Hakeem Olajuwon Opens up about Being a Muslim in the NBA.” Basketball Network - Your Daily Dose of Basketball, 6 Nov. 2023, https://www.basketballnetwork.net/off-the-court/hakeem-olajuwon-opens-up-about-being-a-muslin-in-the-nba. Accessed 1 May 2024.