Sponsored Content
Watch any sports event or game and you will see just how much faith and religious belief play a part for the athletes involved. It is not uncommon to see professional sports athletes making the sign of the cross or offering prayers before, during, and after games all across the world.
It is not surprising that these athletes, who feature on the nightly highlights reels as well as all the best sports betting sites in California, use their faith as an important tool in their professional lives. With so much pressure put upon the athletes by coaches, fans, and themselves, asking for help is a natural reaction.
When you think of all the tests these athletes face every day, from injuries to simply giving up other aspects of their lives to succeed in their chosen profession, getting help from anywhere they can is completely understandable. Here are just some of the elite athletes who have reached the summit of their individual sports – and have shown that their faith is as important as their talent.
Tim Tebow
Now known for his broadcasting and media work, Tim Tebow played in the NFL for three seasons, primarily as a quarterback for the Denver Broncos, but also attempted to reignite his career with a number of other pro teams before retiring. He had been a top prospect at college, taken in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He may not have completely fulfilled his potential in the pro game, but he certainly made a big impression during his time in the NFL.
Tebow was actually born in the Philippines, where his parents had moved to become Baptist missionaries. This early religious upbringing continued to have a huge influence on his life and he was unashamed to show his faith on the field. Tebow became something of a cultural phenomenon when he joined the NFL, with his practice of dropping to one knee and pressing a fist to his forehead coming to be known as “Tebowing”. It was his own expression of belief and faith that made him one of the most well-known Christians in sports.
Scottie Scheffler
Many professional sports athletes believe that they were given their talents by God and Scottie Scheffler has regularly reaffirmed this position in post-tournament interviews. He is currently ranked the number one golfer in the world and has won two of the four majors in the sport in this year alone.
Scheffler might be known as a Texas athlete, but he was actually born in New Jersey and had taken a keen interest in golf way before his family moved to Dallas in 2001. He had already pestered his father to take him to the driving range and the family raised the money to enable him to join a golf club when they did eventually relocate to Texas. Scheffler credits his faith and his family as the forces behind his success and has publicly stated that golf comes a distant third in the level of importance.
Steph Curry
Arguably one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, Steph Curry is regularly seen pointing to the skies after sinking yet another shot for his Golden State Warriors basketball team – and that is just one very open sign of his faith and beliefs. Curry has said that his celebrations are intended to show that he plays for God.
Curry moved around a lot as a child due to his father’s profession as a basketball player. But once the older Curry had retired, the family returned to Charlotte, North Carolina, where the children were enrolled in a Christian school. Steph Curry quickly showed that he was a talented athlete and was taken by the Warriors in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft. He has since won four championships and two MVP awards, sometimes wearing bible verse inscriptions on his name-branded basketball shoes.
Clayton Kershaw
There are many religious athletes playing in Major League Baseball, but few have been as successful as Clayton Kershaw. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the seventh overall pick in 2006 and worked himself up through the farm system to become one of the organization’s most important pitchers. A three-time National League wins and strikeouts leader, he has also been named as an All-Star on 11 occasions and was a World Series champion in 2020.
Kershaw is also a devout Christian and has publicly stated that his faith is absolutely central to his identity – and that his actions, both on and off the field of play, reflect his Christian beliefs. Like many professional athletes, Kershaw has also worn Bible references on his uniform and sees baseball as a platform to spread the word and show his faith. He has a long history of humanitarian work, but has admitted that he has faced doubt and challenges – with his faith coming to his aid in his time of need.
Faith in Sports
It is obvious that faith and religious belief play a large – and very important – role in sports at all levels. Although some professional athletes may not be as open as some of those profiled here, there are many who use their position and influence to spread the word about their religions.
Faith is hugely important to many in these professions, just as sports is to millions around the world. No doubt the two will continue to be closely integrated for many years to come.
