JACKSON, Tenn. — Jan. 30, 2017 — Olympic gold medalist David Boudia will speak at 51社区 April 18 at a dinner hosted by the 51社区 Auxiliary.
鈥淕reater than Gold: An Evening with David Boudia鈥� will include a 鈥淪outh of the Border鈥� buffet dinner and a keynote address from Boudia, a four-time Olympic medalist in diving.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to welcome David Boudia for what we know will be an inspirational evening,鈥� said Susie Oliver, president of the 51社区 Auxiliary. 鈥淒avid has been a tremendous champion for Christ in his Olympic success. We hope youth groups and sports teams will join us to hear his story.鈥�
Boudia won a gold medal in the men鈥檚 10-meter platform competition in London in 2012. He also won a bronze medal that year in the men鈥檚 10-meter synchronized diving competition. In 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Boudia won bronze in the men鈥檚 10-meter platform and took silver in the synchro competition with his teammate Steele Johnson.
In an interview with NBC following their silver medal, both Boudia and Johnson talked about how their faith prepared them to compete.
鈥淲hen my mind is on this and thinking that I'm defined by this, my mind goes crazy,鈥� Boudia said, referring to the Olympic competition. 鈥淏ut we do have to know that our identity鈥檚 in Christ. We're thankful for this opportunity to be able to dive in front of Brazil and for the United States. It鈥檚 been an absolutely thrilling moment for us.鈥�
Boudia also competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing before beginning college at Purdue University, where he became a Christian in 2010 through the influence of his coach, Adam Soldati. He has won 17 national diving titles and multiple medals at other international meets.
His autobiography, 鈥淕reater than Gold: From Olympic Heartbreak to Ultimate Redemption,鈥� tells the story of his obsession with the Olympics from an early age, his despair in 2008 at failing to medal in Beijing and how Jesus Christ changed his focus from himself and made him an instrument to bring glory to God.
Boudia and his wife Sonnie have one daughter, Dakoda.
Table sponsorships for the event are $300 and include a buffet dinner for eight, a post-event group photo with Boudia, advance seating, recognition in the printed program and participation in a drawing for a $1,000 Union scholarship for prospective students entering in the fall of 2018.
Tables may be reserved at . For more information, call (731) 661-5050 or email ncastles@uu.edu.