Canadian skeleton athlete Elisabeth Vathje is a rising star for the Canadian team. But her worth doesn’t come from her scores. She’s a dedicated follower of Christ and knows her worth comes from Him.

“First and foremost, I’m a child of God,” the first-time Olympian told the Baptist Press. “I’m not a skeleton athlete or any of that. It doesn’t matter my profession, but Jesus is still my Lord, and that’s what’s first in everything I do.”

She Loves Going Fast

Raised in a Christian home, Vathje has always wanted to compete in the Olympics. “I’ve always been amazed at the Olympic Games and I always wanted to be a part of it and skeleton ended up being the sport that wooed me,” she said. “I love going fast, that’s for sure.”

Although she is a top performer in her sport, Vathje knows that her success doesn’t come from high scores. “I know that regardless of what I do on the track, that I’m still loved by God and that it takes every single pressure away — because I know God is giving me success,” she said. “But I know that even if the success doesn’t come, it doesn’t change the way God sees me and the way I should see Him.”

“So, it gives me peace in that I don’t have to fight for results for my worth,” she added.

She stays connected to her home church through her mother. “She’s the one who’s sending out the prayer requests to ladies or men who need to be praying for me, and the men in the church are the reason I have my sponsors,” said Vathje. “The church family, and my family, are the only reason I’m in this sport, because I can’t afford to do it without them.”

Vathje will compete Friday and Saturday in the skeleton racing event in Pyeongchang, South Korea.