Although The Greeks

ALTHOUGH THE GREEKS founded the Olympics, the country’s success has been limited in recent years. But in the 2000 Sydney Games, Konstantinos Kenteris pulled off a stunning upset.

Hamstring pulls forced Michael Johnson and Maurice Greene to skip the 200 meters and left the event wide open. Kenteris, a 27-year-old former 400-meter runner, also battled injuries caused by one leg being shorter than the other.

Few considered the Greek a serious medal threat. Following the preliminary heats, experts rated John Capel of the United States as the favorite based on his 19.85 clocking. But in the finals, Capel anticipated the start and rocked forward. Off on his timing, he settled back as the gun sounded.

The poor start pushed Capel to the rear. Coming off the turn, Atop Boldon, Darren Campbell, and Obadele Thompson fought for the lead. But in the final 20 meters, Konstantinos eased past the group and onto the medal stand.

Kenteris clocked a personal best of 20.09 for the gold medal. Great Britain’s Campbell took the silver at 20.14, and Trinidad’s Boldon claimed the bronze with a 20.20. The triumph stunned the gold medalist. Konstantinos clasped his hands to his face in surprise, grabbed his country’s flag from a spectator, and dashed around the track in a victory lap.

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POINT The Olympic Games began at least 3,500 years ago. By 600 BC, four Greek cities, including Olympia, hosted important sporting festivals. The contests grew from values and beliefs that idealized physical and mental fitness. History records Olympic champions from 776 BC to AD 217, but Roman emperor Theodosius I abolished the every-four-year games in 393.

Near the turn of the last century, 24-year-old Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin worked seven years reviving the Olympic Games before an international congress adopted his plan in 1894. Athens hosted the first modern Games in 1896 with 13 nations and 300 athletes participating. But nationality and status didn’t matter in the competition. Athletes were simply athletes, competing to do their best.

In Christ, nationality, status, and gender don’t matter either. We’re all one in him.

GOAL! Search the Internet for information about Olympic competition. Note that medalists hail from many countries. Praise God that we’re all one in him.