Strong faith in God, duct-taped Bible help Olympic speedskater

Published: 2006-02-15

TURIN, Italy (CNS) -- An unswerving faith in God and a duct-taped Bible have pulled 2002 Olympic gold medalist speedskater Derek Parra through life's ups and downs. "When I have trouble, I flip through the Bible and pick a page at random," said Derek Parra, a 35-year-old native of San Bernardino, Calif. "I read a passage, try to understand it and see how it relates to what's happening in my life," he told Catholic News Service. Parra hit the Olympic ice in Turin after a year marked by injuries and personal difficulties. He was part of the three-man U.S. team eliminated in the quarterfinals of the men's team pursuit Feb. 15 and hoped to return to his record-setting stride in the 1,500-meter race Feb. 21.

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