Olympic Skateboarder Glorifies God And Confronts Failure
Cordano Russell, a 19-year-old Canadian skateboarder, made a notable statement of faith before competing in the Men’s Street Skateboarding event at the Paris Olympics on July 29. Born in London, Ontario, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Russell made a dramatic declaration of “Jesus is King!” as he was introduced before his competition.
Russell’s journey into skateboarding began in an unusual way when he discovered an old skateboard in a bush as a child. He described this moment as pivotal and felt it was a sign of divine intervention, considering St. Louis, where he found the skateboard, was not a major skateboarding hub.
At the age of 8, Russell’s family moved to Carlsbad, California, a prominent location for skateboarding, allowing him to further develop his skills. Although he initially played football, he decided to focus solely on skateboarding, which ultimately led him to represent Canada in the Olympics despite growing up mostly in the U.S.
Russell has spoken about how skateboarding has taught him resilience and perseverance, particularly through the frequent failures associated with the sport. He attributes his ability to overcome challenges and maintain determination to the lessons he has learned from skateboarding.
Even though he finished seventh in the Men’s Street Skateboarding competition after two falls, Russell remained grateful for the experience. In an Instagram post, he reflected on his journey and expressed his thanks to God, appreciating the support he received and acknowledging the role of his faith throughout his Olympic experience.