4 Winds Worker Wins USA Track and Field's First Track and Field Gold Medal
Contact: Steve McConkey, 608-469-7956
MEDIA ADVISORY, Aug. 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- For two years, 4 Winds Christian Athletics provided Olympic athlete testimonies to the media throughout the world, including the underground Chinese church. One of those testimonies has been from Stephanie Brown Trafton.
A huge underdog, Stephanie Brown Trafton won the first gold medal for the track and field team in Beijing, sparking the team to win more medals throughout the Monday evening.
"I knew the United States didn't come in here as the favorites (in the discus)," Brown Trafton said. "I knew we hadn't made a final since 1984 and just found out that we hadn't won gold since 1932. I just thank God for giving me the strength to be the one to do it."
Stephanie's testimony was one of the testimonies to go into China through underground newspapers and radio stations broadcasting from free countries into China.
She has been one of the leaders to lead Bible studies for American athletes at the Olympic village. They have been so popular that they added another day.
Stephanie Brown and her husband are from Galt, California and she is a 2003 graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She was a member of the 2004 United States Olympic team.
4 Winds Christian Athletics' president Steve McConkey states, "Stephanie has been growing in her faith every year. Her desire to be used by the Lord is tremendous. We all are growing every day. Liz (his wife) and I have seen her grow into a stronger Christian woman."
After the qualifying round, Steve emailed Stephanie and told her that he thought she could win it all in the final. More Christian Olympians will perform this week.
Steve McConkey is asking Christians everywhere to pray for all the athletes in China. Before the Olympics, the 4 Winds website server was damaged by Chinese Denial of Service viruses and Steve was told that he should not go to China as he provided testimonies to the underground church.
4 Winds opposed an Olympic boycott from the beginning, but has encouraged athletes to witness to the media after their performances in China.
