Virgin Mary 'crosses The Finish Line' With Ethiopian Olympic G

[Chiara Francesco]

Virgin Mary 'crosses the finish line' with Olympic gold runner

From http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/virgin-mary-crosses-the-finish-line-with-olympic-gold-runner/

Is the picture Our Lady of Perpetual Help or what? Looks like it but the colors seem different.




[img]http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/size340/Meseret_Defar_of_Ethiopia_wins_gold_in_the_Womens_5000m_Final_Credit_Alexander_Hassenstein_Getty_Images_Sport_Getty_Images_CNA_US_Catholic_News_8_10_12.jpg[/img]
Meseret Defar of Ethiopia holds up a picture at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 10, 2012 in London, England. Credit: Alexander Hassens/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
London, England, Aug 10, 2012 / 04:25 pm ([url="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/"]CNA/EWTN News[/url]).- Ethiopian athlete Meseret Defar provided one of the most emotional moments of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games when she crossed the finish line in the 5000 meter race to win the gold.

She then pulled a picture of the Virgin Mary out from under her jersey, showed it to the cameras and held it up to her face in deep prayer.

An Orthodox Christian, Defar entrusted her race to God with the sign of the cross and reached the finish line in 15:04:24, beating her fellow Ethiopian rival Tirunesh Dibaba, who was the favorite to win.

A teary-eyed Defar proudly showed the picture of the Virgin Mary with the Baby Jesus that she carried with her for the entire race.

Throughout the event, Defar kept pace with three other Ethiopian runners and three from Kenya, until speeding past them on the homestretch to win gold.

The silver medal went to Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya and the bronze to Dibaba.

Defar is also a two-time world champion in the 3000 meters. In Athens in 2004 she won the gold in the 5000 meters and in Beijing in 2008 she won the bronze.

On June 3, 2006 she broke the world record for the 5000 meters set previously by Turkish runner Elvan Abeylegesse, with a time of 14:24:53.

[4588686]

I lived next to an Ethiopian guy once. I did not like him. I don't know if that's helpful or not.

[Chiara Francesco]

[quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1344722851' post='2466227']
I lived next to an Ethiopian guy once. I did not like him. I don't know if that's helpful or not.
[/quote]

No, actually not.

[4588686]

NVM!

Edited August 11, 2012 by Hasan

[Seven77]

[quote name='Chiara Francesco' timestamp='1344722620' post='2466226']
Is the picture Our Lady of Perpetual Help or what? Looks like it but the colors seem different.
[/quote]

Yes.

[inunionwithrome]

That was an absolutely beautiful and amazing moment!

[Papist]

I saw that. It was razzle dazzle !!!

[fides' Jack]

I like Ethiopian food. Very tasty!!

[Clare~Therese]

That's razzle dazzle.

[Selah]

razzle dazzle!

[loveletslive]

i don't know why, but i had a hunch after she crossed the finish line as she started pulling something out of her bra that it was going to be something religious...kinda awkward because the cameras were like right now her shirt trying to see what she was doing.

[Amppax]

This has very little to do with this thread, but I'll post it anyway. My Dad works mainly with Ethiopian refugees, and right now he has a client that is an Ethiopian Orthodox sister. He's doing her case pro bono, but she offered to do something as thanks. She weaves what can only be described as icons (not sure what they'd be correctly called) but my Dad has asked her to weave one for him to put up in his office. This is unbelievably amesome to me because 1) My Dad isn't religious in anyway and 2)It's going to look so sweet! I'll try to post a photo of it as soon as I see it.