[from Christianity Today)
There’s a hidden Christian message behind what may be the most celebrated image of the 2024 Olympics.
On July 29, in round three of the shortboard surfing competition, Brazil’s Gabriel Medina faced off against Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi, who eliminated Medina in the last Olympics. In his second wave, Medina emerged from a tube exuberant, with both palms open, suggesting that the judges should offer him a 10 for his performance. (Two of the five judges agreed; his final score was 9.9).
Medina then pivoted left, toward the surf, and jumped off his board, raising his right hand and pointing his index finger upward. This was the image that Agence France-Presse photographer Jérôme Brouillet captured.
Brazilian evangelicals recognized the sign immediately.
“It’s like he’s saying, ‘It’s not me you should be looking at, it’s God. This moment of glory is not mine, but His,’” said João Guilherme Züge, a resident historian of religion at Museu Paranaense, in Curitiba.
This has been used by Brazilian athletes for about 40 years, gaining popularity in the 1990’s.
I like the humility and praise of God.