Eight Religious sports people
Mohammad Ali
Islam
He was initially raised Baptist before entering Islam. In 1962, he met Malcolm X, who became his spiritial and political mentor. His faith was tested when he decided not to be drafted into the Vietnam War citing his religious objections. This lead to him losing his titles and being denied the ability to box at a peak physical time in his life from 25-29.
Source: World Religion News
Novak Djokovic
Christianity
He is a member if the Serbian Orthodox Christian and is often seen invoking the Lord during his matches on the ATP Tour. The Holy Cross around his neck very much demonstrates his religious beliefs. He regularly reads the Bible and also partakes in the Buhddist practice of yoga.
Source: Essentially Sports
Stephen Curry
Christianity
It’s on his skin (he has a Bible tattoo), on his shoes (he has Bible quotes on his laces), and in his speeches (he stated during his MVP speeches that God was one of the primary factors in his success). He has explained the connection of players on his team, the Golden State Warriors, by them attending church together and sharing inspiration in their beliefs.
Source: Sport Sprectrum and World Religion News
Amir khan
Islam
He is a Muslim, and a member of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, and an active supporter of the Muslim Writers Awards. Khan desires to focus on charity work. To him, showing what it means to be a good Muslim starts in a simple place. It starts with showing that he’s a good person. Khan actively partakes in Ramadan and has missed fights in order to follow the holiday.
Source: Bleacher Report and ESPN
Serena williams
Jehovah's Witness
She's been honouring the religion since the '80s, when her mother converted. However, she began fully practicing the religion in 2017. Even though Jehovah’s Witnesses discourage members from participating in competitive sports, both Serena and her sister Venus, state that their faith makes them stronger for tennis.
Source: World Religion News and Tennis.com
Jessica Fox
Jewish
She is a slalom canoeist who has competed at the international level since 2008. Fox has won fifteen medals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships with ten golds, three silvers and two bronzes. She also won a silver medal in the London Olympics. Her 7 gold medals in individual events make her the most successful paddler, male or female, in World Championship history.
Source: Observer and Haaretz
Mo Farah
Islam
Islam is an important part of his preparation: "I normally pray before a race, I read dua (Islamic prayers or invocations), think about how hard I've worked and just go for it." He notes that "the Qur'an says that you must work hard in whatever you do, so I work hard in training and that's got a lot to do with being successful. [It] doesn't just come overnight, you've got to train for it and believe in yourself."
Source: The Independent
Karenjeet Kaur Bains
Sikh
She is Britiain's first female Sikh powerlifter. She placed in the top 10 at the World and European Championships, claimed her first international title and became the 2019 Commonwealth Champion in the under 63-kilogram junior women’s class. Most recently, she placed in the top two at the British Senior Bench Press Championships.
Source: Assembly
Eight Religious Sports people
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Transcript
Eight Religious sports people
Mohammad Ali
Islam
He was initially raised Baptist before entering Islam. In 1962, he met Malcolm X, who became his spiritial and political mentor. His faith was tested when he decided not to be drafted into the Vietnam War citing his religious objections. This lead to him losing his titles and being denied the ability to box at a peak physical time in his life from 25-29.
Source: World Religion News
Novak Djokovic
Christianity
He is a member if the Serbian Orthodox Christian and is often seen invoking the Lord during his matches on the ATP Tour. The Holy Cross around his neck very much demonstrates his religious beliefs. He regularly reads the Bible and also partakes in the Buhddist practice of yoga.
Source: Essentially Sports
Stephen Curry
Christianity
It’s on his skin (he has a Bible tattoo), on his shoes (he has Bible quotes on his laces), and in his speeches (he stated during his MVP speeches that God was one of the primary factors in his success). He has explained the connection of players on his team, the Golden State Warriors, by them attending church together and sharing inspiration in their beliefs.
Source: Sport Sprectrum and World Religion News
Amir khan
Islam
He is a Muslim, and a member of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, and an active supporter of the Muslim Writers Awards. Khan desires to focus on charity work. To him, showing what it means to be a good Muslim starts in a simple place. It starts with showing that he’s a good person. Khan actively partakes in Ramadan and has missed fights in order to follow the holiday.
Source: Bleacher Report and ESPN
Serena williams
Jehovah's Witness
She's been honouring the religion since the '80s, when her mother converted. However, she began fully practicing the religion in 2017. Even though Jehovah’s Witnesses discourage members from participating in competitive sports, both Serena and her sister Venus, state that their faith makes them stronger for tennis.
Source: World Religion News and Tennis.com
Jessica Fox
Jewish
She is a slalom canoeist who has competed at the international level since 2008. Fox has won fifteen medals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships with ten golds, three silvers and two bronzes. She also won a silver medal in the London Olympics. Her 7 gold medals in individual events make her the most successful paddler, male or female, in World Championship history.
Source: Observer and Haaretz
Mo Farah
Islam
Islam is an important part of his preparation: "I normally pray before a race, I read dua (Islamic prayers or invocations), think about how hard I've worked and just go for it." He notes that "the Qur'an says that you must work hard in whatever you do, so I work hard in training and that's got a lot to do with being successful. [It] doesn't just come overnight, you've got to train for it and believe in yourself."
Source: The Independent
Karenjeet Kaur Bains
Sikh
She is Britiain's first female Sikh powerlifter. She placed in the top 10 at the World and European Championships, claimed her first international title and became the 2019 Commonwealth Champion in the under 63-kilogram junior women’s class. Most recently, she placed in the top two at the British Senior Bench Press Championships.
Source: Assembly