Elite Athletes Encounter GodSample

Not my will, but yours be done

Pirmin Zurbriggen (Switzerland)
Olympic Champion & 5 x World Champion in Alpine Skiing

Pirmin Zurbriggen in the interview with Jacqueline Walcher-Schneider on 06.02.2012

How do you live out your faith in your everyday life?

Every day I just try to recognize God in everything I do. I want to grow spiritually and receive strength for my everyday life through saying a short prayer in the morning, in the evening and in between. On Sundays we attend Church together as a family. 

Did your faith help you with skiing and competing?

Yes, a lot actually! Faith became the foundation for me since I was 15 years old. I perceived the reality of life more deeply and also had radical experiences with God. I learned that apart from the everyday life of an athlete, much bigger things existed. I used to have the feeling that I was able to make decisions out of my own power, but in reality, everything is a gift from God and that makes me forever thankful. 

Did you pray before a race?

I would rather pray in the evening before the race. I found peace for the next day in reading a book or the Bible. On the day of the race it’s mostly hectic and loud. The calmness from the previous day would give me peace and strength and enable me to have my best performance. What I read in the Bible the night before, I could take with me into the next day. For me the race didn’t start on the day the race took place, but on the evening before. Sometimes I couldn’t find peace. Specifically, during those times, my faith in God helped me a lot. I made myself aware that it will all turn out for the best because all things come from God’s good hands. I accepted that in every situation God’s will would happen and therefore, would turn out for the best. That really helped me. I didn’t pray to achieve a good result because that wouldn’t have been honest. I prayed to receive peace no matter the outcome of the race. 

Do you personally read the Bible?

Yes, I do. I read it often at home, but not as much when I am on the road. In the past few weeks I managed to read it on a regular basis. In the morning I open up the Bible and read a short passage of scripture. 

Do you have a personal testimony of your relationship with God?

Yes, at the age of 15 I was at a training camp during the summer. While I was running, I suddenly became aware that I wanted to lay my athletic journey into God’s hands. That was a true pivotal experience for me. Away from selfishness - from wanting to do everything out of my own strength - to another viewpoint: to lay my life into God’s hands. It was a very intense experience as a 15-year-old that shaped me to this day. 

Who is Jesus Christ to you?

He is my guide. He is the one who said that through Him we will come to the Father.

Action Step

God also wants to encounter YOU. Invite the Holy Spirit to read the bible passage with you and expect that he will speak to you. Trust that God will show you the steps you should take in your own life. Ask Him for strength and courage to follow his voice.