U.S. hurdlers pray all the way to the podium

Last night, the women’s 100-meter hurdles became a team event. Three U.S. athletes, Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali, and Kristi Castlin, swept the race, the first time in that event’s Olympic history that hurdlers from one country had won gold, silver, and bronze. They rejoiced together after the race, arms over their friends’ shoulders, jumping and laughing.

“Track and field, a lot of times people come into it as individuals, and we had a different perspective,” Castlin said. Rollins waited to celebrate her gold medal until she saw her teammates’ names go up on the board right under hers. The three said they had not been on social media for days before the event, instead praying together.

The athletes had each faced adversity. Rollins grew up with a jailed dad in a poor Florida neighborhood haunted by drug dealers and gun violence. Ali’s father murdered his ex-girlfriend and then shot himself. When Castlin was 12, a robber broke into the hotel her father managed and killed him. Then in 2007, Castlin, already a track star, was attending Virginia Tech when a gunman opened fire on campus, massacring 32 people.

But they also knew the best place to find strength for their problems. In a post-race interview with all three medalists, Rollins explained what they did that day: “We formed a prayer circle this morning and we just let His presence come upon us.” She said they had prayed that God would “help us come out here and continue to glorify Him and do the best that we can, and that’s what we did.”

Rollins has been outspoken about her faith on social media. Her Twitter bio reads: “Glorifying God through the talent He blessed me with!” Ali’s mother said in an interview that Ali struggled with her dad’s crimes and suicide, but finding God kept the athlete tough—and Ali said she told God before her Olympic qualification race how much she needed Him. Castlin said she questioned God about her shortcomings when she failed in races, but her faith in Him did not waver.

“We are blessed,” Rollins said “I’m grateful to God.”