1) Jean-Claude Killy was a French ski champion in the 1960s who trained vigorously every day through running up mountains with his skis and weight training to be in peak physical condition. 2) While other members of the ski team worked just as hard through conditioning, it was Killy's change in style by skiing with his legs apart, sitting back on turns, and using his poles to propel himself that set him apart and led to faster times. 3) Killy's unorthodox style went on to win him three gold medals at the 1966 Winter Olympics and became the new norm, while other styles would now be considered odd.

1. Youth Devotional - Downhill
From Here
Devotional on it is ok to be
different
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2. Jean-Claude Killy, the French ski champion, did more than work hard at
his sport.
When he made his nation’s ski team in the early 1960s, he
was determined to be the best. He decided vigorous training was the
key. Up at dawn each day, he ran up mountains with his skis on – a
very painful activity. Weight training, sprinting… Killy was determined to
do whatever it took to reach peak physical condition.
Other team members were working just as hard, and in the end it was
a change in style, not conditioning, that set Killy apart.
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3. The goal in ski racing is to ski down a prescribed mountain course faster
than anyone else. Killy began experimenting to see if he could pare any
seconds off his time. He found that if he skied with his legs apart, he
had better balance. He also found that if he sat back on his skis when
executing a turn, instead of leaning forward as was customary, he had
better control, which also resulted in faster times. Rather than
regarding his ski poles as an accessory for balance, Killy tried using
them to propel him forward.
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4. Killy’s style was unorthodox. But when he won most of the
major ski events in 1966 and 1967, including 3 gold medals at
the Winter Olympics, skiers around the world took notice.
Today, the Killy style is norm among downhill and slalom
racers. Any other “style” would be considered odd.
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5. As Christians we are not called to conform to the world’s
standards, but to God’s standards. Our lifestyle should challenge
people to come to Jesus Christ and live according to His higher
ways and purposes. The Christian “style” may seem odd to the
unbeliever, but in the end, it is the style that will previal!
Don’t be afraid to be a little “unusual” today in the eyes of
those who observe you. Your example may help win them over
to a championship lifestyle.
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6. www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible
Study Series with an Olympic Theme?
What is salvation all about? What does it
mean to be saved? This sports themed
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the
Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of
sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle),
purity (white background), spiritual growth
(green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and
(Baptism) blue circle.
Creative Youth Ideas
Go for the Gold
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/goforthegold.html

7. www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series
on ”Running the Christian Race”?
The race as a metaphor for the Christian
life is used in several places in the Bible.
This series is a great follow up for new
Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of
our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a
sports theme and is great for athletes as
well as a tie in to the youth Olympic
Games.
Creative Youth Ideas
Destined to Win
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/destinedtowin.html