Go for the Goal – Jilleanne Rookard

The 2014 Olympic winter Games open in Sochi, Russia on February 7, 2014.  Exactly one month later, following the 17 days of initial competition, the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games open for 10 days.  What better time to use Mainstay’s Go for the Goal sermon series.  As support material for our Go for the Goal series, we continue our series of stories that spotlight Winter Olympians whose goal is to honor Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we forget that world-class athletes are human. We watch them on TV and wonder why they don’t always perform up to our personal expectations. We forget that they, too, have injuries, sickness, sorrow, and other burdens to bear – ones that we do not see on television. Jilleanne Rookard is a perfect example.

After winning the World Cup 3000 meter speed skating event in 2009, she went on to participate in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. She failed to medal, placing 12th in the 3000m, 24th in the 1500m and 4th in Ladies Team Pursuit. Disappointing? Sure. But not nearly as disappointing as losing her mother to cancer in December 2009. That devastating loss was like having an elephant strapped on her back every time she strapped on her skates. 

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