In fact, Shelia has spelled success in the event for years, becoming the 2003 and 2002 USA Outdoor Champion, competing in the 2000 Olympics and winning a medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. Now, she’s focusing on the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Since September, she’s trained six days a week at the Olympic training center in San Diego.

For Shelia, athletic achievements came early in life. She played basketball, thought P.E. was easy and started beating boys in races at school. “I’ve known since I was 12 that I wanted to go to the Olympics. That was before I’d even run in track,” Shelia says.

In junior high she was invited to run with a track club. She stayed on course with her Olympic goals through high school, earning all-state honors in track, basketball and volleyball. She went on to compete as a top-ranked athlete at UCLA and now trains independently. She’s also the assistant track coach at Kansas State University.

But there is more motivating Shelia than a desire to win an Olympic medal. She runs a bigger race now, because she decided to follow Jesus five years ago. “Before knowing Christ, I wanted to be the best — for me,” Shelia says. “Now running is just another step in my life and walk with Jesus.”

Higher Goals
Shelia began moving toward God after a painful breakup with her boyfriend. As she explored Christianity, she was reluctant to surrender her life to Jesus, trying to find reasons why she didn’t have to change her lifestyle. The anger and pain from her relationship coupled with her spiritual search resulted in a difficult time.

“I thought I knew everything and had everything under control,” she says. “But I had an identity crisis. I didn’t know who I was.” In desperation, Shelia attended a meeting at a local church and finally felt the need to give her life to Jesus. Once she became part of God’s team, Shelia began to ask bigger questions. She saw that her life was meant for bigger things than standing on a podium.

“I’d ask God, ‘What’s the point of all of this, and what do You want me to do with the success?’ ” she says. “I began to see beyond the fame, money, recognition and attention and realize that God has made all of us for a special purpose.”

Shelia has made it her purpose to do more than excel as an athlete. Outside of her rigorous training schedule, she speaks to youth groups and encourages them to excel in life and stand strong in their faith.

“Teenagers can do amazing things for God,” she says. “It’s the most exciting thing to see them fired up for God. If I can help them serve Him with all their heart and stir up something that God’s already planted, it’s an awesome thing.”

Shelia is also starting the Shelia Burrell Foundation for students in junior high through college, which will focus on setting goals backed by the Word of God. “I want people to expand their visions to see beyond their circumstances,” she says. “And I want them to know they’re special. They’re chosen. And God will use them no matter who they are, how they dress, what the color of their hair is, where they live or anything else.”

Shelia says a key to success is keeping an identity and faith firmly rooted in Christ. “As athletes and as people, when we come across people who are stronger, prettier or have done more than we have, doubt sets in,” she says. “But no matter what, even if they’re naturally better [at some things], God can do the impossible supernaturally.”

Shelia also teaches that growing in Christ, just like anything else, takes work. “Spiritual discipline is much harder than physical discipline,” she says. “You have to be disciplined to read your Bible and pray daily.”

If you happen to be running next to Shelia someday, you may hear of her faith then, too. She considers herself one of the more outspoken Christian athletes in track and field. In fact, she regularly writes articles and online columns for Athletes in Action, an international organization that ministers to athletes.

Secure Identity
The road to Athens hasn’t been smooth and easy for Shelia. She’s had to jump life’s hurdles, enduring real-life scrapes and bruises. She’s overcome an economically poor background, knee injuries, the death of her younger brother and issues of the heart that no medal can heal. In college, Shelia battled confidence issues. If she performed well, she felt fine, but a poor performance sent her into depression.

“My confidence and identity were based on how well I performed,” she says. “I was always on an emotional roller coaster with everything I did.”

Finally, Shelia did so poorly at an event that she hit an emotional low and realized she was sick of feeling that way. “It was then that God began to show me it doesn’t matter how I perform because my identity is in Him. I began to believe I am who God says I am.”

Her identity in Christ was put to the test at the 2000 Olympics, where she missed a high jump during her second event. She still had five events left, but was eliminated from medal contention.

“I completed the meet anyway, knowing I had no chance to win — but I was OK,” she says. “I leaned on God.” Now Shelia is leaning on God for the Olympics in August. Months of training will culminate when she steps before thousands of people and millions of TV viewers and marches toward a gold medal — one event at a time.

“I’m believing God for a miracle,” she says. “I can get on the medal stand in my own strength, but to win a gold — that’s completely out of my hands. I want to submit it all to God. He doesn’t just oversee things. He is a power that works in us, and through Him we can live in victory and confidence.”

Career Highlights
2003 USA Outdoor Champion

2002 USA Outdoor Champion

2001 Bronze Medalist at World Championships

2000 Participant in Olympic Games

1999 USA Outdoor Champion

Silver Medalist at Pan American Games

Heptathlon Results (As of Press Time)
100-meter hurdles: 13.05 seconds

High jump: 1.76 meters

Shot put: 14.4 meters

200-meter run: 22.92 seconds

Long jump: 6.57 meters

Javelin throw: 50.31 meters

800-meter run: 2 minutes, 10.11 seconds

Shelia’s Favorites
Ice Cream: Mint chocolate chip. “I refuse to give it up,” she says.

Candy: Twizzlers

Spiritual Training Tips
• Listen to your coach — the Holy Spirit.

• Practice — read, pray, listen, worship, attend church and spend time with Christian friends.

• Keep tabs on your entertainment diet — be careful what you watch and listen to.

• Remember: It’s a process. You have to go through all these steps to grow.

• Beware: A lazy spiritual life translates into being lazy elsewhere.