01. DEBORAH LOVELY
Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Deborah Lovely knows all about commitment.
"With weightlifting you've got the heaviest weight you can possibly lift. When you have that split second to get underneath the bar, [you have] to be 100 per cent committed " It's the difference between snapping your elbow and letting it hit you on the head, or actually lifting it."
The 22-year-old Queenslander has grown up in a Christian home since her birth and her parents have always taught her the importance of being committed to Christ. "I've always appreciated my parents encouraging my siblings and me to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and helping us to grow in our faith and know Jesus personally," Deborah says.
Deborah also received outside inspiration for her love for God and weightlifting.
"When I was 11 I remember seeing the Power Team, a Christian strong-man show where these massive guys would tear number plates and phone books in half, pick up trees and crack ice with their heads and elbows, among other things," she says. "I was so impressed to be there. Just the way they talked about God and how I could have a personal relationship with him through Jesus really impressed me. I know I asked Jesus to be in my life as my Lord and Saviour that night."
Deborah attends Ithaca Presbyterian Church where she attends both the morning and evening services and plays drums in the band. She also keeps busy studying at Griffith University where she is completing a double degree in Arts and Law. She also coaches in athletics and still finds the time to train 30 hours a week.
Regarding her weightlifting gold medal win in the 75kg weight class in Melbourne: "I think I'm still in shock."
02. MARTY WILSON
At 196cm and 104 kilos, you would think there would be little that could hurt NSW Waratah Marty Wilson. But while playing rugby union for Eastwood nine months ago, the lock/flanker fractured his knee cap and tore his patella tendon, putting him on the injured list until this month.
"I went in to make a tackle and had a direct knee blow with one of the other guys and came off second best. I haven't played since then. But I am a few weeks off taking to the field."
Marty grew up going to St Matthew's, West Pennant Hills with his parents, but made his commitment to Christ on a Year Eight youth group camp.
"On that camp with St Matt's I was convicted of my sin and my need to live in accordance with God," he says.
"I didn't notice a massive change at the time. But as I grew older I realised that being a Christian you had to change and stand out from the rest of your friends."
Marty says the rugby culture has its challenges. "It's a very worldly culture, based around having a good time, drinking, girls and that sort of thing," he says. "Going against what the crowd does is a challenge, but the odd ridicule is nothing compared to the persecution our brothers and sisters are facing elsewhere in the world."
Marty says being injured has helped him to rely on God.
"God has been really good to me during this time. I have managed to trust in him a lot more through this time, which hasn't always been easy," he says. Marty has recently changed churches and is attending Parramatta Baptist to be with his fiancé, Amy, whom he is marrying this month. He has already started serving at the church.
"I have started helping to lead the youth group there. I do a Sunday morning Bible study with a group of Year Seven boys."
03. DARREN BEADMAN
Darren Beadman, who has won the Melbourne Cup twice " on Kingston Rule in 1990 and on Saintly in 1996 " stunned the industry when on Boxing Day 1997 he announced his early retirement from racing in order to go to Bible college.
According to media commentators, Darren is now at the peak of his career since getting back in the saddle in 2000. But for one of Australia's greatest ever jockeys, the ultimate prize is being a faithful witness to Jesus.
"Going back into racing, I am in a place where I can be a real witness in the environment," he says.
"I don't Bible bash, but people do come and ask me things about Jesus and my faith. People ask me for advice. You can challenge people and help them." Darren became a Christian after one of his twin daughters fell ill in 1991 and he went into a church seeking help.
"I went into the chapel at Camperdown Children's Hospital and asked God for help," he says. "From that moment, opportunities became available and I received invitations from people to go to church."
Darren says his two years at Sydney's Aquila Bible College were valuable. "It was where God wanted me to be at the time in my career. It was very character building, different to what I was used to " I was normally outdoors and not a reader," he says. "I'm flat out writing a Christmas card, and I had to write 3000-word essays, so it was daunting at times. But I got to know more about God and my purpose in life," he says.
Darren and his wife Kim are members of St Martin's Anglican Church in Kensington.
04. DAVID SIMMONS
At just 21 years of age, David Simmons's rugby league career is still in its early days yet he already has statistics that impress. The Cronulla Sharks' first-grade fullback was the team's top try-scorer last year with a total of 16 tries. Just last month saw David step up to representative level, playing for City against Country in the annual NSW State of Origin lead-up match and scoring City's first try of the game.
"It was a great feeling to be selected. But it has been unexpected. Every time I have been called to a higher grade, I'm not expecting it," he says.
Since going to youth group at St Luke's, Miranda as a Year Nine student, David has been living for Christ ever since.
"I go to the 7pm service there and lead a small group of Year 10 kids on Sunday nights before church," he says.
"I enjoy seeing all my Christian friends, talking to them and encouraging one another."
David says the life of a professional rugby league player has its drawbacks and its benefits.
"Some guys keep you on your toes with the activities they do on the weekends but it's not hard to stay clear of that. They are all nice guys and I look forward to chatting to them about what I did on the weekend and about God," he says.
"In terms of making time for church stuff, it's not hard at all. It's actually one of the better jobs for a Christian to have because you have more free time. It's only a problem when I have Sunday games, because I can't make cell group."
"The toughest times are during injury or sickness or when I'm playing badly. They're times when I say "Why God?'. But looking back they are the times God has taught me great lessons."
05. JOANNE PETERS
Joanne Peters has reached the pinnacle of women's soccer in Australia.
The 27-year-old represented the national team, the Matildas, at the 2003 Women's World Cup in the USA in 2003. The daughter of a Uniting Church minister, Joanne grew up in the church, but admits there have been some tough times along the way.
"I was living out of home since I was 18 to pursue my football career so there has been a journey for me in owning my own faith. It's been a journey where I always come back to God as my priority."
"It's important to have good fellowship outside of sport so you can be strong enough to go away for three weeks at a time when you don't have much contact with Christians," she says.
However, in recent times, Joanne has made some valuable Christian contacts in sport. Australian Athletics Chaplain Nett Knox has played a valuable role in Joanne's Christian walk.
"Meeting Nett has been great for accountability and support," she says.
Joanne also played for Christian team Charlotte Lady Eagles in the USA in 2002. The team went on to reach the grand final of professional women's league, the W-League. Another memorable experience from Joanne's days in the W-League was when she was asked to play some Christian songs on the field during half time at one of the matches.
"I [was] puffed and in my uniform. But it was a unique opportunity. That was quite an experience," she says.
Now back in Australia, Joanne is in the Matildas squad, but supplements her income as a personal trainer, a motivational speaker and a part time coach. Joanne attends the Southern Cross Vineyard church plant in Newcastle.
"It's quite small but we have just recently grown enough to move into a community centre," she says.
The Australian midfielder says God is her guide in whatever choice she makes for her life. "I know God got me here and he wants me to give him glory by playing football. He's my strength and my purpose. I know it's intended for me to play football. When it's not, he'll take me somewhere else," she says.
06. LEE YOUNG PYO
Korea's Lee Young Pyo was part of the squad that reached the 2002 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, beating Italy and Spain on the way. The feat was even more incredible given the team had never won a single game in their three previous World Cup appearances. What is even more incredible is that not long before, Young Pyo became a Christian.
"I became a Christian four years ago. Before that the idea of God was a fairy story for me. I considered believing in God was just for some odd people," Young Pyo says.
"Growing up in Korea, I was influenced by Buddhism. If I had a religion I would have been a Buddhist."
Young Pyo heard about God through some Christian friends and was eager to find out more.
"When I honestly tried to find the answer, God showed me that he really existed. I began to study about God and came to know him more closely."
Young Pyo says everything in his life changed since becoming a Christian.
"Questions such as where I came from and where I am going; how the problem of my sins, for which I sought for answers with mental anguish were answered.
"One of the biggest human problems is fear of death. As I know where I will go, I am free from death itself. Therefore all my thoughts and my very life have been dramatically changed."
Young Pyo says believing in God has improved his attitude towards his soccer.
"I cannot decide any result, because that depends only on the will of God. All I can do is to prepare and to do my best in the game. Therefore, I can accept the result joyfully even if my team loses," he says. "I treasure God who lets me play soccer more than I treasure soccer itself."
All profiles are by Joseph Smith except Deborah Lovely's which contains excerpts from Challenge: The Good News Paper and Lee Young Pyo's which is taken from the DVD "The Prize' by Athletes in Action and contains excerpts from Challenge: The Good News Paper.
