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Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of AIA

The Performance Treadmill - Jeremy Rolleston

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I’ve had both my ups and downs in sports. In rugby, just as I was about to achieve one of my childhood dreams of representing the Australian Wallabies in the Hong Kong Sevens, I snapped my knee. As a sportsperson, it was a devastating moment to see your dream crushed before you. I guess the good that came out of this is that I ended up overseas playing professionally, which I probably wouldn’t have done otherwise. I then found my way into bobsledding, and bobsledding led me to two Olympic Games. 

I can see how God brought those circumstances for my good. But bobsledding has had its ups and downs as well. I had one great Olympics and one that I couldn’t have scripted worse, whereby we unexpectedly crashed into a two-man and couldn’t keep going. That was on the infamous Whistler track, which someone died on only ten days earlier. It was devastating; it was one of the worst moments of my life as a sportsperson. Picking myself up from that has been really difficult. But what I’ve learned from it, and what I’m still learning, is what’s found in a verse in the book of Matthew that says, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26) 

This verse doesn’t make me less disappointed but it helps me put the sporting box into the bigger life box. Consider what the Bible is talking about. What really counts at the end of the day? I can’t give a gold medal in exchange for my soul. This doesn’t make me less motivated or determined to do well, but it does give me a bigger perspective on life. That’s what Jesus challenges me on all the time. 

As a sportsperson, you are judged solely on your performance. One day, the media, your coach and everyone else loves you because you’re performing well, and the next day no one wants to know you because you’re not performing well or you’re injured. You’re on a constant performance treadmill as an athlete. And in some ways, you embrace that; you love that. But in some ways, it’s really hard. As a Christ-follower, it’s nice to know that this is completely the opposite. It’s not a performance treadmill. There’s nothing I can do to earn God’s love. There’s nothing I can do that will make God love me more. To have His mercies new every morning and know the concept that He loves me, not because of what I’ve done, but because of what He’s done for me (which is the opposite of what you know life to be as a sportsperson), it’s freeing!

—Jeremy Rolleston, Australian Olympic bobsledder

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of AIA

The Performance Treadmill - Jeremy Rolleston

Sep 16, 2019

I’ve had both my ups and downs in sports. In rugby, just as I was about to achieve one of my childhood dreams of representing the Australian Wallabies in the Hong Kong Sevens, I snapped my knee. As a sportsperson, it was a devastating moment to see your dream crushed before you. I guess the good that came out of this is that I ended up overseas playing professionally, which I probably wouldn’t have done otherwise. I then found my way into bobsledding, and bobsledding led me to two Olympic Games.  I can see how God brought those circumstances for my good. But bobsledding has had its ups and downs as well. I had one great Olympics and one that I couldn’t have scripted worse, whereby we unexpectedly crashed into a two-man and couldn’t keep going. That was on the infamous Whistler track, which someone died on only ten days earlier. It was devastating; it was one of the worst moments of my life as a sportsperson. Picking myself up from that has been really difficult. But what I’ve learned from it, and what I’m still learning, is what’s found in a verse in the book of Matthew that says, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)  This verse doesn’t make me less disappointed but it helps me put the sporting box into the bigger life box. Consider what the Bible is talking about. What really counts at the end of the day? I can’t give a gold medal in exchange for my soul. This doesn’t make me less motivated or determined to do well, but it does give me a bigger perspective on life. That’s what Jesus challenges me on all the time.  As a sportsperson, you are judged solely on your performance. One day, the media, your coach and everyone else loves you because you’re performing well, and the next day no one wants to know you because you’re not performing well or you’re injured. You’re on a constant performance treadmill as an athlete. And in some ways, you embrace that; you love that. But in some ways, it’s really hard. As a Christ-follower, it’s nice to know that this is completely the opposite. It’s not a performance treadmill. There’s nothing I can do to earn God’s love. There’s nothing I can do that will make God love me more. To have His mercies new every morning and know the concept that He loves me, not because of what I’ve done, but because of what He’s done for me (which is the opposite of what you know life to be as a sportsperson), it’s freeing! —Jeremy Rolleston, Australian Olympic bobsledder