Athletically, he was leading the pack. In college, the future U.S. Olympian was paving the way for a world-renowned career in the decathlon, a demanding track-and-field competition in which he’s favored to win the gold medal during the summer Olympics.

But relationally he was pulling up the rear. His girlfriend, Sarah Smith, whom he wanted to marry, was ready to move on. She was a dedicated Christian who wanted to grow spiritually; Bryan was a confused seeker who had lied one too many times about partying the night before.

It was hard for Bryan to let go of his ugly past. The painful childhood memories from his parents’ divorce and his rebellion that followed—alcohol, drugs and vandalism, to name a few—had left deep scars. But one night, as Bryan sleeplessly wrestled with God through Scripture and prayer, something clicked.

“It was a huge turning point for me,” he says. “I said a prayer: ‘No matter if I’m the loneliest person on earth or I don’t achieve my goals or don’t get Sarah for my wife and have kids, I’ll follow You.’ It was a belief that He was the only thing I’d have left. That’s when He broke the last bit of hesitation in my heart.”

Beyond Blessed
Bryan, 28, is now a living testament to God’s unmerited grace. He married Sarah in 2004, and they now have two children. He lives and trains in beautiful Southern California and also spends time each year in Oahu, Hawaii, where he grew up. In fact, his passion for the island’s youth led him last fall to start the Bryan Clay Foundation, which provides academic and athletic scholarships to underprivileged children.

God has greatly blessed Bryan’s career, too. Over the last four years, he has won virtually every important national and international competition in the decathlon, in which athletes compete in 10 different events over two days. (See “Decathlon Events,” below.) Among those wins was the World Indoor Track and Field Championships in Valencia, Spain, last March. A gold medal at the Beijing Games, which take place Aug. 8-24, would be a fine complement to 2004 Olympic silver he won in Athens, Greece.

“I try not to think about it too much,” Bryan said. “I train on a daily basis, and I know what my goals are and what to expect when I get there.”

Bryan also understands that the reason for his success has nothing to do with personal glory.

“I want to do the best I can so God can use me the most later in life,” he said. “I’ve accomplished a lot already. There are only a few more things I can do in the sense of medals, so really I’ve got to have another reason for doing it. Otherwise, I’d end up getting bored and moving on. But I really feel God is going to use this.”

Decathlon Events
(in order of competition)

1. 100-meter dash

2. Long jump

3. Shot put

4. High jump

5. 400-meter dash

6. 110-meter high hurdles

7. Discus

8. Pole vault

9. Javelin

10. 1,500-meter run