The Christians in Sport Podcast

Gill's story as a Christian, mother and marathon runner is inspiring. Taking up marathon running in 2011, Gill progressed to a personal best of 2:53:22 in 2016, all while working and more recently becoming a mum. Listen for how Gill's identity in Christ is game-changing for her sport, church, to family life. (0:00) Intro and Jan's bio (1:30) What does it mean to have your sport and faith connected? (3:16) How Gill got into running marathons (5:52) Running highlights, and challenges so far (9:35) How does Gill balance running, work, church and family life? (13:53) What's it like to share faith with other runners? (17:21) Is it hard for people in church to understand your commitment to running? (20:21) Positive changes and possible pitfalls for women's running as the sport evolves. (26:33) Coming back to running after pregnancy (30:51) Has running shaped your faith? (33:57) Outro

On nights out the best opportunity to chat may well be outside in the smoking area, away from the noise and where it’s natural to have a deeper conversation. So, should you smoke on a night out to have gospel conversations with your teammates? (0:00) Intro (0:22) Today's question (0:53) We're called to share our faith (1:40) Permittable vs beneficial (2:42) Temple bodies (3:19) Damaged bodies (4:59) What can you do when the smoking conundrum arises? (7:17) Conclusion

Jan is a former long track and marathon speed skater, now working for Next Move Sports Ministries in the Netherlands. Jan decided to retire from skating at 22 because he struggled to connect his Christian faith with his passion for sport, yet now he helps top-level athletes to think through how they can combine faith in Christ with competing at the top level of sport. Listen to find out how Jan's perspective shifted as he worked through what it means to be a Christian and a sportsperson. Find out more about Next Move Sports Ministries 👉 https://nextmovesport.nl/ (0:00) Intro and Jan's bio (0:50) Refinding faith and retiring from professional sport (5:24) What's it like to be a pro speed skater? (7:00) The toughest speed skating race that almost never happens (9:35) What changed that meant Jan finally connected sport and faith? (14:27) Can church and elite sport really fit together? (19:25) The biggest issues that face Christian elite athletes today (20:49) Elite sport and fragile identity (22:20) What does it like to live as a Christian in an individual sport (24:25) Getting into ultra-running and discovering that sport can be worship (26:13) Sharing faith in the ultra-running community

John Bostock debuted for Crystal Palace at just 15 years old, still their youngest-ever first-team player. He signed for Spurs a year later but his career wasn't straightforward, spending years on loan and playing abroad. He came to faith as a teenager and, in 2015, founded Ballers in God, an organisation that aims to disciple professional football players and to make Jesus known in the world of football. Danno caught up with John at Notts County's ground, Meadow Lane to talk to him about his career as a professional player, and his mission to share the good news of Jesus in the world of football through Ballers in God. Find out more about Ballers in God 👉 https://ballersingod.com (0:00) Intro (2:55) How do you connect your sport and faith? (4:35) How is normal for you to be a Christian and a pro football player? (6:19) How did you become a Christian? (7:54) How becoming a Christian quickly transformed John (12:29) Growing in church and learning to love the Bible (16:05) Moving to Spurs at 16, going on loan, and faith deepening through hardship (23:09) Being rebuilt and moving to Belgium (24:15) Christian mentors within football as a young player (28:15) How Ballers in God came to be (32:28) Managing time and the power of prayer (35:20) Coping with 6 months without a contract in the UK (36:28) Landing at Notts County and helping them back into the EFL (41:05) What's the future for Ballers in God?

Jenny Tait is an Australian volleyball player, earning 66 caps for the Volleyroos indoor team as well as playing for Campbell University in the NCAA and at the top level in Europe. Jenny retired in 2020 and is now studying theology at Moore College in Sydney. Danno caught up with Jenny to talk about her career in elite sport and her passion to continue working alongside Christian elite athletes now she's retired. (0:00) Intro (2:20) How do you connect your sport and faith? (2:55) What were your career highlights? (4:05) How did you get into volleyball? (5:19) How long did it take to start performing at an elite level? (9:20) How did you become a Christian? (13:11) What was church like as a new Christian and when you went home? (14:50) How did faith in Christ change your sport? (16:54) Identity, imposter syndrome, and the pressure of elite sport. (23:48) Retiring and working to support athletes' mental health (25:37) How has it been sharing faith in your sport? (27:40) Moving on to theological college, and hopes for future ministry

Alison Nicholas is a British golfer who reached the pinnacle of the sport in a highly successful career as both a player and then later on as the captain of a victorious Solheim Cup winning team in 2011. In a fascinating interview with Graham Daniels, she talks about what it looks like to be a successful leader and coach in elite sport and how her faith has helped her throughout her golfing career. (0:00) Intro (1:09) How Alison got into golf (3:00) Progressing and joining the ladies European tour (4:32) The key influencers in Alison's life and golf at the top level (5:55) Coming to Christ through golfers on the European tour (18:36) Stepping up to join the LPGA tour and playing in the states (11:01) Winning the US open (13:30) Being ruthless in competition with dignity (15:03) Captaining The Solheim Cup and tough decisions (17:20) Captaining for the second time (20:45) Rigorous leadership (24:42) The contrast between leading and playing (27:59) Winning the Solheim Cup (29:25) Outro

Starting university is a really significant transition in life. It can be daunting, unpredictable and challenging as you move from home and look to join a new sports club. Here's six top tips to help you settle in well. 0:00 Intro 0:22 Today's question 0:48 Answer 1:14 Join a church 2:10 Follow Jesus from day one 2:50 Be committed to your sports club 3:32 Be ready for initiations and socials 4:35 Make disciples 5:10 Pray

As the 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off we revisit a conversation with Garin Jenkins recorded in 2016. Garin is a former Welsh rugby union player capped 58 times by his country. He played in three World Cups and multiple Five and Six Nations tournaments. In conversation with Graham Daniels, he tells us about his battle with misdirected passion and aggression on the rugby field and how his growing faith remained steady as he endured massive ups and downs both on the pitch and off it. (00:00) Introduction (01:54) How Garin found out he'd won his first international cap (03:30) Making it to the international stage but feeling lost (04:50) Misdirected passion on the field and the battle for discipline (07:36) Garin's challenging upbringing and first steps of faith in God (09:24) A family disaster at a huge match against Cardiff (13:07) What it's like to realise you're playing at the top-level of sport (16:27) Reflections from Graham Daniels on the interview.

As a Christian sportsperson, what should you prioritise as you leave university behind and join the world of work? 0:00 Intro 0:22 Today's question 0:38 A significant transition 1:02 Find a church 1:58 Find a club 2:49 Be bold 3:09 Team Up 3:34 Be patient 3:56 Pray

Bertie Kennedy is a top-level cricket analyst who has worked with numerous clubs and franchises across professional cricket, including conducting the inaugural Hundred draft for the Northern Superchargers. He consults for numerous sporting teams to help them make better data-driven decisions alongside lecturing on the MSc in Performance Analysis at the University of Gloucestershire. We caught up with Bertie at his home in the southwest of England to talk about how his faith shapes the way he works in top-level sport. (0:58) How do your sport and faith connect (5:56) Getting in to the world of performance analysis (9:56) What does performance analysis look like now? (11:44) How do your faith and work go together? (14:11) Why is integrity important as a Christian in the workplace? (18:24) The influence of data in coaching elite players (23:26) What does the relationship between analyst and coach look like? (26:40) What soft skills do you need to be an analyst? (28:13) Treating elite players with empathy when using data (31:57) Common misconceptions about performance analysis (34:30) Outro

Can a Christian really bring glory to God in combat sports like boxing or martial arts? In this episode of AskCIS we look at what the Bible has to say about the use of violence in sport, and ask if it's possible to glorify God if violence is part of your sport. 0:00 Intro 0:22 Today's question 1:06 What is God's glory? 2:21 Is violence inherently wrong in sport? 4:31 What do combat sports promote? 5:31 Creativity 6:52 Character 7:26 Conscience

Fanie Van De Merwe is a multiple Paralympic Champion in track sprinting, with three Gold medals to his name across a career that saw him make three Paralympic Games. Fanie grew up with cerebral palsy but competed alongside able-bodied athletes until a coach suggested he focus on disability sport when he was 17. Fanie and his brother Chris now run a Christian non-profit called Inspired 2 Become, focusing on alternative action sports and athletes with disabilities and Fanie coaches visually and intellectually impaired children. Danno caught up with Fanie at his home in South Africa to talk about his journey to faith alongside his long career at the top of Paralympic sprinting. (01:07) How do your sport and faith connect? (02:57) Competing with able-bodied children at school and discovering disability sport (05:13) Athens 2004 and the start of Paralympic ambitions (09:11) How did faith play out as you trained to win at Beijing 2008 (12:33) How did you come to faith? (16:11) Seeing God as a father (19:46) Winning Gold at Beijing 2008 (23:48) Defending Gold at London 2012 but facing disappointment in the 200m (26:18) How identity in Christ shaped Fanie's perception of pressure & disappointment (29:47) Rio 2016 and retirement (34:34) Inspired to Become and supporting disabled young people

Issues around what women should wear for sport have been hotly debated in recent times, with plenty of opinions voiced about how much athletes should or shouldn't wear. Some sports even regulate the type of kit female athletes can wear whilst leaving male athletes to choose for themselves. In this episode of AskCIS Rosie Woodbridge takes us through biblical principles on clothing and how we can use these to think about how we dress to train and compete. 0:00 Intro 0:22 Today's question 0:30 Response 0:57 The context 3:42 Where is this an issue for you? 4:27 What does the Bible say? 7:22 What does this look like in sport? 9:20 Summary

Eating disorders are disproportionately common in sport, and can be hugely damaging to athletes' physical and mental health. Jonny caught up with Rosie to talk about her experience of battling her eating disorder alongside playing Ultimate Frisbee for Great Britain, and how her faith shaped this struggle. Read more about rosie's eating disorder 👉https://christiansinsport.org.uk/eatingdisorder 0:45 How do your sport and faith connect? 1:17 Rosie's journey to the top of her sport 4:04 What difference did it make to be a Christian in your sport? 5:46 Developing an eating disorder 9:11 The difference between healthy and unhealthy eating in sport 11:24 When Rosie realised she had an eating disorder 12:31 Dealing with the spiritual aspect of an eating disorder 16:57 Why is it that eating disorders are so prevalent in sport? 18:10 How can you help someone who might have an eating disorder? 20:41 Encouragements and challenges from the life of Jesus

How can you respond if someone says you shouldn't let your child compete on a Sunday? It's a big question that could come easily from another parent, a church leader, or a Christan friend. In this episode of AskCIS we dig into this question by opening up the Bible to see how God's word might shape a response. Read more about Sunday sport: https://christiansinsport.org.uk/academy/topic/church/ (0:00) Intro (0:23) Today's question (1:19) Decisions need to be made (2:25) Be fully convinced (4:24) Be open in your approach (5:30) Principles for responding

For many the season is over, and Wednesdays are no longer taken up with BUCS fixtures. Then once exams are over everything can become a bit of a blur. But what about reaching the world of sport for Christ? How does that fit into the last month of university life? (0:00) Intro (0:22) Today's question (0:48) Answer (1:10) Circumstances change but the need for Jesus doesn't (2:21) There's nothing to lose (3:46) Four things you can do (4:00) Pray (4:08) Continue to share life (4:37) Boldy proclaim before you go (5:03) Revision break or post-exam event

Matthew Joseph is the man 'coaching the coaches' at Arsenal Football Club's Academy. Matthew played as an Arsenal and England youth team player, gaining an Arsenal pro contract at eighteen. However, at nineteen he was released by Arsenal, a decision that he says broke his heart. He went on to play over 400 games in English League Football for Cambridge United and Leyton Orient before retiring and becoming a coach at the FA. In 2022 Matthew completed a career circle, rejoining Arsenal to oversee the Academy Coaching staff. Danno caught up with Matthew to talk about his playing career, his role now as Academy Coach Developer at Arsenal F.C. and what it looks like to live as a Christian in the high-pressure world that is professional football. (1:15) How do your sport and faith connect? (2:08) What's it like to be released from a Football Academy? (8:27) Coping with being released. (11:22) Identity in retirement and becoming a Christian (15:33) Why do you want to be a coach? (19:46) Arsenal's values and caring for young players (23:07) How has the process of releasing academy players changed? (27:00) Managing young players on a performance pathway (28:10) What would you say to a parent of a player who's been released? (31:32) Understanding your value in a world dominated by performance (33:45) Being part of the Christians in Sport coaches network

What does it mean to play my sport for God’s glory? We often see people on social media talk about ‘playing for God’s glory’ and ‘all for His glory’ but what does this actually mean? In this episode of AskCIS we seek to understand what it means to glorify God and how this might play out for Christian sportspeople. (0:00) - Intro (0:22) - Today's question (0:34) - Answer (0:55) - God's goal is to show off His Glory (1:46) - But we often get this wrong (3:50) - So, how can we glorify God in sport? (4:21) - We glorify Him as we compete (5:50) - We glorify God by declaring his greatness (6:36) - Summary

Anastasia Chitty (Née Posner) represented Oxford University in five Boat Race crews as well as representing Great Britain at World Cups, World Championships and the World University Games. In 2020 Anastasia retired from rowing to complete her medical studies, giving up her opportunity to compete for a spot in the British Olympic team for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Danno caught up with Anastasia at her rowing club in Oxford to talk about her journey to faith and what it looked like to live as a Christian at the top-level of rowing. (1:00) How do your sport and faith connect? (1:51) How did you come to faith? (2:50) Coming to Oxford and growing in faith (4:45) The Boat Race (6:52) Rowing in the first televised Women's Boat Race (9:12) The transition from student-athlete to potential Olympian (13:45) The pressure of competition to go to the Olympics (15:16) Can you ever escape the pressure to perform? (17:46) How did your faith develop during this period as a full-time athlete? (21:30) What would have been different if you weren't a Christian? (24:16) Four things in play for elite Christian athletes (25:45) What did witness look like as a professional athlete? (28:10) How hard was it to decide not to continue to Tokyo 2020? (33:17)The role of Church for elite athletes (35:16) Where did Christians in Sport fit in? (38:32) Continuing rowing after stepping back

Fitness tracking and activity sharing apps have completely changed the landscape of athletic sports in recent years. In this episode of AskCIS we explore the benefits and potential pitfalls of Strava for the Christian athlete. (0:00) - Intro (0:22) - Today's question (0:42) - Answer (1:20) - Strava connects (2:20) - Strava consumes (3:26) - Strava constricts (4:14) - Should you use strava?