Olympic Gold Medalist Hunter Armstrong: Faith Fuels His Triumphs
Hunter Armstrong, a two-time Olympic medalist, reveals the profound influence of his faith on his swimming career and personal life, sharing how it has guided his redemption arc and propelled him to new heights.
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Hunter Armstrong, an Olympic gold medalist, has had a remarkable journey to the top of the swimming world. After earning two medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Armstrong reflects on the transformative role faith has played in his success.
Armstrong credits his victories to the unwavering support he finds in his religious beliefs. "I don't see myself in my day-to-day life as an Olympian. But every day I'm a Christian," he says. "When I'm competing, I'm a Christian Olympian."
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His faith, however, wasn't always at the forefront of his life. Armstrong admits to drifting away from his beliefs at times. "I was always a believer, but I wasn't buying into it," he says. "I didn't have a relationship with God, and I felt like I was taking advantage of Him for only remembering about faith when I needed it."
A turning point came for Armstrong after a challenging breakup and other personal trials. "I realized that I had to buy into this," he says. "When you put something else above God, He'll take it away."
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Armstrong found solace and guidance in the support of fellow swimmer and friend Carson Foster, who invited him to a Bible study. "I didn't want to go, but something in me said, 'Go to this,' and it was incredible," Armstrong recalls.
Since then, Armstrong has embraced his faith and found a sense of community among other swimmers who share his beliefs. "There is a strong sense of camaraderie among fellow swimmers, and we've created a community of faith," he says.
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Armstrong believes that God isolated him during a period of his life to transform him. "I felt that this past five, six months, because everybody that I had, everybody I was close to in my life, left me," he says. "It was heartbreaking, but that's when I realized that God was working in my life, because He had to tear down who I was in order to build me into the person He had planned for me to become."
Armstrong advises the younger generation to pay attention to faith and its role in their lives. "We see signs every single day that God is constantly working in our lives," he says.
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Currently, Armstrong is taking a six-month break from swimming but remains undecided about his future plans. "I miss working out. I miss the grind," he says. "That'll be something I'll feel out on, where my body's at, where my mental health is."
Armstrong's journey is a testament to the transformative power of faith and the belief that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope and guidance to be found.
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