A 7,000-point Score

A 7,000-POINT SCORE in the heptathlon represents the pinnacle of the sport. In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Jackie Joyner-Kersee targeted that mark as her goal.

The East St. Louis native captured the 1988 heptathlon gold with a world record 7,291 points. But Spain’s heat and humidity limited her chances for another record-breaking performance. Then Joyner-Kersee’s disappointing throw in the shot put made a new record impossible.

Just prior to the 200 meters, her final event of the first day, Jackie watched fellow American Gail Devers claim the 100-meter gold medal. Inspired by her friend’s efforts, Joyner-Kersee vowed to raise her performance to the next level. A first-place finish in the 200 with a time of 23.12 seconds gave her 4,136 points through four events and a lead of 127 over Germany’s Sabine Braun.

Day two opened with the long jump, the 30-year-old’s strongest event. A leap of 23-3.5 extended her lead to 239 points, and a javelin throw of 147-feet-7-inches put her in front by 298. In the final event, the 800 meters, Joyner-Kersee needed a time under 2:15 to reach 7,000 points. She clocked a 2:11.78, finishing with 7,044 points and back-to-back gold medals. Irina Belova of the Unified team took silver, and Braun claimed the bronze.

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POINT Jackie Joyner-Kersee stood atop the medal stand not with a record but with another 7,000-point milestone. Only seven times had an athlete reached that magical number in the high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin, 800-meter run, 400-meter hurdles, and 200-meter sprint. And of the seven 7,000-point performances, Joyner-Kersee reached it six times while Russia’s Larisa Nikitina scored 7,004 in 1989.

The number 7,000 not only has significance in the heptathlon, but also in the Old Testament. Wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel worshipped Baal rather than God. They killed God’s prophets and required the people to bow to their false god. Elijah felt alone. But God told his prophet that 7,000 others in Israel resisted the evil rulers too.

When we feel alone in our faith, God remains faithful and ready to lead us to others who also follow him.

GOAL! Read more about Elijah, Ahab, and Jezebel in 1 Kings 19 and 2 Kings 9. Praise God for all who stand firm in faith. And next time you feel alone as a Christian, remember that there are millions of others who feel the same way about Jesus as you do.