An Olympic judo champion from Serbia faces a five-month suspension for making the sign of the cross and breaking other rules during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Despite the suspension, he remains strong in his faith and has no plans to compromise his beliefs for his career.
As believers, we know our faith should come first in everything we do, including sports. Jesus gave His life for us on the cross, and nothing in this world is more important than our relationship with Him. While athletic pursuits and achievements are commendable, they pale in comparison to the eternal impact of our relationship with God.
Nemanja Majdov, a 28-year-old Serbian judo world champion, got into trouble after competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics. The International Judo Federation (IJF) gave him a five-month suspension for breaking their rules. They said he made “a clear religious sign” – the sign of the cross – when entering the competition area. He also refused to bow to his opponent after the match and took off his uniform in the competition area.
View this post on Instagram
The IJF’s decision has people talking about how to balance religious expression with sports rules. The organization said their Code of Ethics tries to protect judo’s principles and make sure everyone feels respected at their events. They explained that while religious acts aren’t allowed in the competition area, people can express their faith outside of it.
This wasn’t Majdov’s first time breaking the rules. The IJF said they had warned him before in April 2018 and February 2022 about his behavior. But despite the suspension, Majdov isn’t backing down from his faith.
He posted a message on Instagram, saying, “The Lord has given me everything, both for me personally and for my career, and he is No. 1 for me and I am proud of that. And that will not change under any condition. Glory to Him and thanks for everything.” His strong faith in the face of career problems has inspired many Christians around the world.
View this post on Instagram
The IJF tried to explain their side of the story too. On September 18, they released a statement to clear up what they called “false claims and wrong information” going around. They repeated the charges against Majdov and said their rules are meant to keep the competition area neutral.
“The IJF respects and appreciates equally all cultures, nationalities, religions and orientations of all its members, including but not limited to athletes,” they said. “Our rules about showing religious or other signs only apply to the competition area, which is just for judo and where only judo rules and signs are allowed, the same for everyone.”
The IJF’s Disciplinary Commission also talked about how important respect and self-control are in judo. They called these qualities key parts of “the spirit of Judo.” This focus on discipline and following specific rules in the sport has led to a tricky situation where expressing personal faith clashes with sports regulations.
Even with this setback, Majdov remains strong in his faith and positive about his future in judo. In his Instagram post, he looked back on what he’s achieved in his career with gratitude. “God gave me a great career, 7 European and 3 world medals,” he wrote. “When I started, I dreamed of winning at least one big medal and succeeding in my life and the life of my family, who sacrificed everything for my career.”
Let’s be encouraged by Nemanja Majdov’s strong faith and commitment to putting God first in his life and career. May we also find the courage to stand firm in what we believe, knowing that who we are in Christ is more important than any worldly achievements or recognition.
As we think about this story, let’s pray for wisdom for sports organizations as they deal with these complicated issues, and for athletes like Majdov who want to honor God in their chosen fields.