Debbie Flood
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Testimony source: Unedited from www.christianity.com Debbie Flood was born competitive. It’s something that has got her a place on the Team GB rowing squad. But her sporting career could have taken a different route. While at school she got onto the British Judo team after excelling in a number of sports. She stumbled upon rowing after training on a rowing machine while preparing for a Judo competition. After making the transition – which included numerous falls into the water while picking up the sport – she can now look back at a career which has taken her all over the world, winning a number of medals in all sorts of competitions. She’s an Olympic veteran after winning silver in the Quadruple Sculls in both the Athens and Beijing Games, but is hoping to go one better in London: ‘Two silvers – they [were] fantastic races but you always want gold. It’s important to aim high and train for the gold medal.’ Debbie puts everything into her sport, training three times a day, seven days a week, for 49 weeks of the year. But she’s keen to point out it’s not her number one priority in life: ‘Being a Christian gives you a bigger perspective on life. Sport can take over your life, but for me, my faith comes first.’ Flood spends time away from sport helping local charities as well as her church: ‘It’s important to know you have a purpose. At the moment rowing may define how people see me, but ultimately I’m defined as a child of God, and when I finish I’ve got something to go on to.’ Rowing is one of the most competitive of all the Olympic sports. Team GB has built a reputation of winning gold after the constant success of people such as Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent. Maybe this year Flood will add her name to that esteemed list. Debbie Flood (www.christianity.com) |
