Jemimah Wright reflects on what elite sprinter Amy Hunt can teach us about pursuing the gifts and passions God has given us. Could learning to enjoy what we are good at be part of what it means to live fully alive?
British sprinter Amy Hunt has just made athletics history. The 24-year-old became the first athlete ever to win four gold medals at a single European Athletics Championships, after triumphing in the 100m, 200m, women’s 4x100m relay and mixed 4x100m relay. In the final race, she ran the anchor leg as Britain set a European record.
Watching replays of the races which took place from the 10–16 August 2026 at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, I found Amy’s power and speed inspiring. I only sprint for a few seconds when chasing after the dogs who have done a runner, but there is something about getting into a stride that feels remarkable when the body is working as it should. I can only imagine how amazing that feeling must be for Amy.
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Amy’s wins are an extraordinary achievement.
Amy’s wins are particularly impressive given what Amy has overcome. A serious quadriceps injury requiring surgery in 2022 threatened her progress, but she returned to win Olympic silver in Paris in 2024. She has also combined elite athletics with studying English at Cambridge.
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Watching her sprint across that track reminded me of the words of another famous runner: Eric Liddell. In the film Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell famously says to his sister: “I believe God made me for a purpose – but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
Liddell knew that running was something he had been made to do. His Christian faith did not require him to despise his talent. He could enjoy it. He could work at it and strive for excellence.
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I know when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, “do what you love” sometimes sounded too good to be true.
I know when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, “do what you love” sometimes sounded too good to be true. Sometimes we forget that God has also given us passions, talents and dreams.
There can be a temptation to dismiss these things as selfish or unimportant. But what if pursuing the gifts God has given us can actually be part of worship? The early Christian theologian Irenaeus wrote: “For the glory of God is a living man.” This has often been paraphrased as “the glory of God is man fully alive”. Being fully alive doesn’t mean becoming famous or successful. Amy Hunt’s four European gold medals are remarkable, but our worth isn’t measured in medals, achievements, money or applause. It means becoming the person God created us to be.
I will never run like Amy Hunt. Most of us will never break a European record. But we all have a race that is uniquely ours. Don’t be afraid to pursue the things that make you feel alive. Take the opportunity. Celebrate the victories – and thank God for the One who gave you the ability to run in the first place.
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