Rayssa Leal praised Jesus Christ after winning bronze at the Paris Olympics
Watch the viral video of Rayssa Leal as social media users are claiming that the teenage skateboarder used sign language to quote John 14:6 to celebrate her bronze medal victory at the Paris Olympics 2024.
For the unversed, French Olympians are barred from displaying religious symbols while representing France due to the country’s secularism principle. However, the International Olympic Committee insists that athletes in Paris can represent themselves, their faith, and their country.
Skateboarder Rayssa Leal praises Jesus Christ in sign language and quotes John 14:6
Many Christians expressed outrage at what they perceived to be the mockery of Christian symbolism celebrated during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games.
Despite this, Christian athletes like 16-year-old Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal are using their visibility to celebrate their faith.
What Exactly Happened?
After winning the bronze medal in the women’s street skateboarding final at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, Leal used sign language to quote John 14:6 to celebrate, according to a video shared on X by a platform user who goes by the name Dom Lucre.
The Scripture says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
🔥🚨BREAKING: Rayssa Leal, a Catholic skater won a Bronze Medal at the Paris World Olympics and she allegedly was told she wasn’t allowed to praise Jesus Christ.
Leal responded by saying 'Jesus is the way, the truth and the life' in sign language to protest.
This is very… pic.twitter.com/j5XJQ83AFD
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) July 28, 2024
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of International Olympic Committee came forward as they addressed the rule.
What Did IOC Say?
An IOC spokesperson told the media, “For the Olympic Village, the IOC rules apply. There are no restrictions on wearing the hijab or any other religious or cultural attire.”
JESUS IS THE TRUTH.
Rayssa Leal was told she wasn't allowed to praise Jesus Christ at the Olympics.
Leal responded by saying, 'Jesus is the way, the truth and the life' in sign language to protest…
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) July 29, 2024
About Rayssa Leal
For the curious, Leal’s global popularity began to rise after skateboarding icon Tony Hawk shared a video of her on X when she was 7 years old, doing “a fairytale heelflip” while dressed as a blue fairy princess.
She became Brazil’s youngest Olympian in 2021 when, at 13, she won the silver medal in the skateboarding street competition.
The Catholic skateboarder earned the second-highest score of the final of the competition on Sunday that is a 92.88, which lifted her from fifth place to third, securing her place on the podium.
Enquanto a dona está naquele soninho bom, eu compartilho essa medalha linda por aqui!
Lindona né? 😎 pic.twitter.com/Lqzg5HVnmm
— Rayssa Leal – OFICIAL (@rayssaleal) July 29, 2024
Although Rayssa Leal won a bronze medal, it was celebrated in the stands like it was gold. In that moment, Leal, an undeniably popular figure back home in Brazil with huge support in Paris, jumped from fifth to third, securing her second Olympic medal.
Following backlash from Christians globally over what many believed was a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” painting depicting drag queens, a transgender model, and a singer made up as the Greek god of wine, the organizing committee of Paris 2024 apologized, stating there was no intention to disrespect Christianity.