On a recent episode of “Deep End With Lecrae,” the Christian hip hop artist interviewed hurdler Daniel Roberts about his faith and his experiences at the Paris Olympics. Roberts took home a silver medal from the 2024 Summer Games.
During his Nov. 14 podcast, Lecrae asked Roberts about his sport, his faith, and his thoughts on the controversial Opening Ceremony in Paris. Roberts, 27, admitted it can be challenging to balance ego and humility as a pro athlete. But he said his constant prayer is “less of me, more of you, God.”
Olympian Daniel Roberts on Being Bold for Christ
Lecrae, who was at the Paris Games, said lots of people were “disappointed in me” because of the Opening Ceremony, asking how he could support the Olympics. Some Christians, offended by drag queens portraying the Last Supper, called for a boycott of the Games.
When Lecrae asked Roberts whether he felt backlash, the athlete said he didn’t know what had happened until he saw the uproar on social media. Then, he said, he had to ask what God wanted from him in that situation. Roberts decided he didn’t need to “fight back” but just be “bold” about who he represents and why he was there.
When people urged a boycott, Lecrae said his reaction was, “Why would you want to take people out of these spaces where they can be a light in a dark world?”
Chris Bates, a trainer for the U.S. water polo team, prayed for Roberts in Paris. That encounter made the hurdler realize God was “showing me what he could do through me, even when I’m not perfect.” Lecrae and Roberts discussed how God doesn’t need people to complete his purposes, but God decides to fill us with his Spirit and use us.
Daniel Roberts on Running the Race
Roberts, who grew up in a Christian home full of athletic siblings, said his faith became his own around ninth grade. “I always felt some type of presence, some type of pull,” he said, and in high school he “was just ready to really dedicate my life to God.”
Because track and field is an individual sport, athletes can get wrapped up in pride, Roberts said. Confidence is key for success, yet Christ calls us to “be humble and speak good about your competitors.”
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Roberts tries to “be prepared for any moment God puts me in.” Although he aims to break records and earn more medals, he also realizes “maybe God just wants me to be a professional athlete [and] reach the people that I’m supposed to reach in that moment.”
