Skating With Jesus

On the eve of the Winter Games, there is no bigger favorite than speed skater Catriona LeMay Doan. Only a few weeks ago, she led Canada to a sweep at the world sprint championships. She's coming off a 2000 season that saw her named Canada's female athlete of the year.

For a less experienced athlete, perhaps a less spiritual one, this could be troublesome. Few things are as stressful as coming into the Olympics as the definitive favorite, especially in a race where one slip can be disastrous. Remember Dan Jansen?

But this speed skater has a quiet confidence. She's been to the top of the mountain before and struggled to return there again. A born-again Christian, Le May Doan says that her belief in Jesus steadies her on and off the ice.

In the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. LeMay Doan was one of the favorites in the 500 meters, the race that has become her specialty. But she caught an edge and fell, losing the race and any chance at a medal. That race undermined her confidence until she turned to Christ.

"No matter how I do, Jesus has given me a peace about my sport," she says. "He's always going to be with me to direct me in my life."

Four years later, at Nagano, Japan, LeMay Doan rebounded to win the gold in the 500 meters and the bronze in the women's 1,000. Even though she had proven herself, such success inexplicably led to a prolonged slump, and another test of her faith.

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