The Champion

Catherine Antonyuk

Catherine Antonyuk [ahn-TOHN-yook] grew up skiing in Siberia. By the time she was 11 she was competing, and by age 15 she was the regional cross-country champion in her age group, the youngest team member to win. Often her team traveled across Russia to take part in national competitions. Ski instructors saw her talent and encouraged her to enroll in a special school for athletes, where she could study and train in her sport.

She left her family and moved to Belarus, where she enrolled in a special athletic school. She joined the Belarus national skiing team. Catherine continued to win many competitions in her age group, and she was invited to compete in the winter Olympics in 1998.

Then something happened that changed her life.

"I met a girl named Ira," Catherine said. "I did not know her well, because she was not on my sports team. But one day I found her reading her Bible. I asked her why she read the Bible, a book I thought no one read anymore. She offered me a Christian book to read, but I refused it, saying that I don't need religion.

"That year was the best of my skiing career. But my coach pushed us very hard, and I became too tired. The next year I had difficulty winning anything. I was not invited to continue competitive skiing with the national team.

"I needed to find a different coach, and Ira's coach invited me to work with his team. Ira and I shared a dormitory room that season, and I often saw her reading her Bible and other religious books, but I still was not interested, and she did not push me.

"Then during our break in December, Ira invited me to go home with her. While we were there, she wanted to attend some religious meetings and invited me to go too. I could not refuse, so I went. I was amazed to find the culture hall so crowded--for religious meetings!

"I remember only a few things the speaker talked about, but his messages opened an interest in religion, and I wanted to know more about God. Ira and I talked for hours about what we learned, and this time when she offered me a Bible and some other religious books to read, I accepted them.

"As I read the books, God began working on my attitudes and priorities. I realized that the Bible is not a book of myths as I had thought, but true and living and powerful.

"I shared what I was learning with some of the competitors we lived with. They listened with interest, and I told them everything I knew about God at that time, which wasn't much. I even invited them to go to the Adventist church in town, though I had not yet attended!

"After skiing season ended, I stayed in town. I found the Adventist church and began attending. There I found two of the girls I had invited to the church. They had been attending for several weeks! Later that spring one of these girls and I were baptized.

Initial Opposition

"My mother was not happy to learn that I had joined a small Christian group she knew little about. I went home to visit and tried to tell her about my faith. But she was not interested. So I told my grandmother. My grandmother said that she did not have a Bible, so I got her one, along with several religious books to read. The following year my grandmother began keeping the Sabbath, and later my mother became interested and started reading the books I had left. They were baptized last year!

"There is no Adventist church in their town, so they keep the Sabbath at home. They are the only believers in that town, but they are active in sharing books and videos with their neighbors. I know that soon there will be more new members in my hometown.

"I had not seen my father for three years, and when I told him about my faith, he did not understand. He visited me at Zaoksky, where I am studying, and was very impressed with the students and staff. I gave him several books to read. He told me he has read three of the books, and his new wife has also read some.

Sabbath Problems

"I knew that eventually I would have Sabbath problems, because most of the skiing competitions are held Sabbath and Sunday. I missed competitions and lots of practices, which caused problems with the coaches.

"I was offered a contract to prepare for the Olympics. Before I signed the contract, my coaches told me that I must choose between sports and religion. Even though this was the event for which I had worked for so long, when they gave me the choice, I knew I had to take a stand.

"My friends and I prayed all night about this, and the next day I told my coaches that I could not choose sports over religion. Surprised by my decision and determined that I remain on the team, the coaches offered to let me have Sabbaths off. I rejoiced at their change of heart and signed the contract. During the first few months the coaches kept their promise, but as the Olympics drew near, it became more difficult.

"More and more critical competitions fell on Sabbath. I felt guilty that I was letting God down, but if I did not compete, I was told I was letting my country down. I often did not know how to pray.

"When we arrived at the Olympics, I rejoiced that there were no competitions on Sabbath. I joined a group of Christian athletes at the Olympics, who met in a religious center in the Olympic village. We shared our faith with other athletes, showed videos about Jesus, and encouraged people to get to know God better. We were excited about this special opportunity to share our faith.

More Choices

"I planned to leave sports following the Olympics, but my coaches begged me to stay and enticed me with promises of good pay, a nice apartment, and many other benefits. But I had learned that happiness did not lie in athletic success or fame or medals. Happiness lay in obeying God.

"It was a difficult struggle, but my friends and I prayed together about it. I realized that if I lost my hold on God, no amount of worldly riches mattered. When I decided to trust God, I felt such a peace in my heart. I would not trade that for anything!

"I wanted to attend the Adventist seminary at Zaoksky, but I had no money and no sponsorship. Someone suggested that I write to the Adventists in the church I had attended during the Olympics and ask for their help to attend the school. To my amazement, they offered to pay for a year of my studies.

"Since I came to Zaoksky to study, I have kept in touch with the Christian athletic association that I joined during the Olympics. I have gone with them to several major sports events, where we can share our faith with other athletes. It is a good way for me to witness to those I am comfortable around. God has opened wonderful doors for me in this ministry!"

___

Catherine Antonyuk continues her studies at Zaoksky Theological Seminary in Russia.

This story originally appeared in the adult edition of Mission, 3rd quarter 2001, edited by Charlotte Ishkanian. Used by permission.