Michael Phelps has won 28 Olympic medals, of which 23 are gold medals. This is the most of any Olympian in any sport. Americans watched his Olympic races with excitement pulling for his victory. Fewer Americans recognize the name Hicham El Guerrouj. El Guerrouj is an Olympic Moroccan runner who holds two Olympic gold medals and is one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time. For many years, he held the world record in the mile, 1,500-meter, and 2,000-meter races.
These two athletes illustrate how God uniquely designed them for their particular athletic competition. They differ significantly in height. El Guerrouj is five feet, nine inches tall. Phelps is six feet, four inches tall. Amazingly, despite this seven-inch difference in height, the two men are identical in one respect: they wear the same inseam on their pants! You see Phelps has relatively short legs and a very long torso, while El Guerrouj has incredibly long legs and a short upper body. Phelps body is ideal for swimming with long arms and torso to pull his body through the water, while El Guerrouj has long legs for fast running.
Their uniqueness doesn’t stop there. At peak fitness, Phelps weighed 194 pounds, which is 40 percent heavier than El Guerrouj, who competed at an ultra-light 138 pounds. In running, every extra pound is a curse, but in swimming Phelps needed every pound of muscle he could use to propel him forward!
Imagine if you switched these two athletes. How would Phelps do as a long distance runner? How would El Guerrouj do as a swimmer? Obviously neither would have been world class athletes in the opposite sport because their bodies were not uniquely designed for the sport (1).
I believe God uniquely designs each of us for service and contribution in this world. Paul said, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). We are each made differently. We are not expected to match someone else, but to use our unique skills and talents. Your skill set may not make you famous or win you an Olympic gold medal, but God created you to bring glory to His name! Choose your right fit and give it all for the Lord’s glory!
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(1) The source for this illustration was the book Atomic Habits by James Clear.
