What if the biggest obstacle between you and your calling isn’t failure, but fear?
Olympic gold medalist Laura Wilkinson shares the incredible true story behind one of the greatest comeback victories in Olympic history. From a devastating injury just months before the Olympics to standing atop the podium, Laura reveals how God met her in uncertainty, strengthened her through suffering, and taught her that faith isn’t about certainty—it’s about taking the leap.
Laura knows what it feels like to stand at the edge of impossible. Just months before the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Laura shattered her foot and was told her Olympic dreams were all but over. Instead of giving up, she spent weeks visualizing every dive, trusting God through disappointment, and preparing for what seemed impossible.
Against every expectation, Laura went from 8th place to Olympic Gold, completing one of the greatest comeback stories in Olympic diving history.
But this conversation isn’t really about winning medals.
It’s about learning how to trust God when life doesn’t go according to plan.
Laura shares the lessons she learned through injury, disappointment, fear, motherhood, retirement, and stepping back into the unknown after God called her out of retirement to pursue another Olympic dream.
If you’ve ever wondered whether God can still use your setbacks, this conversation will encourage you to keep taking the next faithful step.
In This Episode You’ll Learn
- How to trust God when your dreams seem impossible
- Why perseverance is built through pain—not comfort
- What Laura learned after nearly losing her Olympic dream
- The surprising power of visualization and faith working together
- Why your identity must be rooted in Christ—not your accomplishments
- How Scripture became Laura’s greatest source of strength under pressure
- The lesson a tiny mustard seed taught her moments before winning Olympic gold
- Why obedience often requires jumping before you know how you’ll land
- How God uses setbacks to prepare us for His greater purpose
- What it means to find purpose beyond performance
Connect with Laura Website | Instagram
Collide Resources
- Our Personal and Powerful Bible study reminds us that God is able to intersect with our lives in both personal and powerful ways.
- The Insight Journal is a free tool to help you pause and take stock of all that you’ve been through, all that you’ve learned, all that you want to leave behind, and reflect on lessons learned in hard times to take with you on the journey ahead.
- We all have big dreams and big goals, but we often get held back by our own self-doubt. But God wants to use you just as you are. Dig into our amazing resource, 5 Exercises to Help you do Amazing Things to help you confront the fear that holds you back, and to say “yes” to God doing amazing things in your life.
