David Boudia is very open and honest in his book ‘Greater Than Gold’. He tells of his struggle with ‘self’ and wanting ‘fame’. Those ruled his life for a long time. After a dismal experience in the 2008 Olympics, he won gold at the 2012 Olympics. Along the way, he encountered God and a new way of thinking of himself and others. He openly says that he is still working on loving and thinking of others and still fails. I think that shows how even people that seemingly have it all still struggle. I think as we go through life we forget that everyone struggles. I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would recommend this book.

An insight into one olympian's journey. If you want a good read about a person finding Christ in their life this is worth a read and feels sincere.

I first came across Olympic diver David Boudia when I saw him and his excellently named teammate Steele Johnson talk about having their identity in Christ when interviewed after winning silver at the Rio 2016 (a video which has been watched nearly 5 million times).

This book, written before Rio, recounts Boudia’s life and conversion up to and after he won gold in the 2012 Olympics in London. But this is far more than just a Christian sports autobiography – it’s a portrait of someone trying to apply the gospel to every area of life. For example, Boudia shows very clearly that the gospel isn’t just for the start of the Christian life – he talks about wrong behaviours and attitudes in his life that have emerged when he’s stopped living in light of the gospel. Before he became a Christian, sporting success was where he looked for his identity – and that idol didn’t just disappear once he was born again.

Boudia is insightful on nearly every subject area he touches – marriage, work etc. For example he writes: ‘sometimes we get the idea that we should be passionate about our work all the time [but] our work was never designed to provide us with the joy and satisfaction we can only find in Jesus’. Reading this book is nearly like a reading a Christian counselling book, because he makes it so clear what it looks like to apply the gospel to every area of life.

I’ll close with the reaction of this newly converted Olympic athlete to hearing that he could get to go to church TWICE in one day:

“My heart leaped for joy when [they] said they’d be going back again that night. ‘You’re going back back to church again’, I asked in astonishement. ‘Yeah, I’d love to go with you’.
Church twice in one day? The old me would rather have done anything else. The new me – the one in whose heart God was doing a work of grace and redemption – couldn’t get enough.”

Full disclosure: David Boudia goes to the same church I do, but I've never talked to him personally. It's a very big church. I'd heard that there was an Olympic diver in our congregation, but I'm not a sports fan so didn't get terribly excited. I vaguely followed the buzz on Facebook from friends at church and was glad to hear he had won some medals at the 2012 Olympics. For one reason or another, we weren't at the Sunday evening service when he spoke following that 2012 Olympics, so I hadn't heard his testimony. His name stayed more or less within view, as a local diner near Purdue University's campus named a grilled cheese sandwich plate after him, and we eat there often. Hmm...must be "somebody" if they named a meal after him!

Then came the summer of 2016. Before he left for the 2016 Olympics, he spoke at church again, this time on Sunday morning. This time, I got to hear him, and wow, was I ever impressed! The transparency, the humility, the clear gratitude to God -- it was all amazing to hear! When I saw he had a book, we immediately bought it because we wanted to know more about this remarkable young man. Much of what I heard in that Sunday morning sermon is included in this book, but the book is much more descriptive and detailed.

I won't give away any plot points beyond the obvious: He had it all, as far as the world was concerned. But "all" wasn't enough, wasn't satisfying, and he sought more. He found that "more" in giving his life to Jesus Christ and serving Him alone. This book is exactly the type of (auto)biography that I love reading -- grandly inspiring and yet practical for just a normal Jane like myself. I highly recommend it whether the reader is into sports or not.

I bought this book on Kindle first, then later saw it available on NetGalley. I wanted to leave a review there as well. So I have a paid-for copy and a free eARC copy gratefully received from the authors, publisher, and NetGalley. But my opinions are my own.

The book was interesting but not particularly well written. I appreciated the wisdom and truth of the book.