CK Updates
Does faith have a role to play in sport?
Lizzy Bellaand
Georgia Levy-Collins,BBC Newsbeat
Getty ImagesWhen Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi scored against Arsenal on Tuesday night, he did what he often does – point to the sky.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber – nicknamed ‘Pastor Timber’ by fans – followed suit when he scored in the penalty shoot-out at the end of the game.
Both teams have influential players who have recently been discussing the importance of their Christian beliefs.
And it’s not just in football where we’ve seen contrasting headlines about professional athletes displaying their faith.
Earlier this year, at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, GB sprinter Jeremiah Azu was warned not to wear a “100% Jesus” headband.
But can your beliefs impact your performance – and how you are treated – in the sport you play?
ReutersSport governing bodies often have rules against displaying religious and political slogans during competition.
Jeremiah wasn’t formally punished for wearing his “100% Jesus” headband in a 400m semi-final, but World Athletics bosses said they spoke to his team about the accessory.
The 24-year-old says he now backs the rules separating religion from the track, but he’s glad he did it.
He tells BBC Newsbeat he believes his “strength” comes from his faith, and he wore the headband to show that.
His father is a pastor, so Jeremiah says religion has always been a part of his life.
“We read the Bible at home, we prayed at home,” he recalls.
He says his religion helps his performance in athletics.
“As a Christian you have to be disciplined,” he says, a trait he feels transfers over to track and field.
“There’s days where it’s difficult to push, but I know I have to from the discipline I’ve got from my faith,” he explains.
Though Jeremiah says he’s never felt “muted” when talking about his faith, up-and-coming athletes tell Newsbeat it’s not always that simple.
Semi-pro footballer Zainab El-Mouden, who plays for Chesham United FC Women, says there are challenges as a female Muslim player who wears a hijab.
The garment is worn over the head as a display of modesty, but it’s not always been welcomed on the football pitch.
It was banned by governing body Fifa until 2014, when players were permitted to wear it for religious reasons.
And just two years ago, Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina, 27, made history by becoming the first player to wear a hijab at a World Cup.
Zainab, 22, says her faith means everything to her, from the way she conducts herself to the way she dresses.
She says it’s been a real journey to become comfortable wearing a hijab while playing football.
“Initially I hated it, I hated the way it looked on me,” she says.
“My hijab was my biggest insecurity and then it became my biggest strength.
“Whether you want to or not, you’re going see me and you’re gonna watch me more than anyone else.”
Zainab feels there is still a difference in how male Muslim players are treated compared with female players.
“With a female Muslim player, they’re visibly different so that’s where I think the rift kind of comes in,” she says.
After growing up with no one that “looked like” her in football to inspire her, Zainab says she wants to be that role model for others.
“All the girls that are growing up now need that representation to play,” she says.
Does faith impact your performance in sport ?
There are studies on how a positive mindset and confidence can influence your performance.
Religion isn’t always part of it – many athletes have rituals they “must” follow before a big game or race to centre themselves.
Some report that their faith forms part of preparations for a big event.
A Seoul University study published in 2000, based on interviews with 180 sports people across 41 sports, identified prayer as one of seven main “coping strategies” those surveyed used to combat anxiety before a big event.
It suggested this could have a positive effect on their performance.
Semi-professional footballer Jaiden Chang-Brown, of Lingfield FC, tells Newsbeat his faith has helped him to manage his emotions in a slightly different way.
“I feel like sometimes my passion could get the better of me in the past,” he says.
“Sometimes I would lash out at teammates.
“It’s really helped just to give me peace when I’m on the pitch.”
Jaiden says his faith has helped him to improve his mindset and “tap into that psychological side of football” when he plays.
The 21-year-old describes himself as a “born-again Christian” and says his religion is the most important thing in his life.
“It’s bigger than football, it’s bigger than everything,” he says.
“People think it’s not cool to be bold in your faith, but it is.
“You can laugh and have your giggles, but it’s what I believe in.”
CK Updates
Commonwealth Games 2026: Scotland claim eight medals in five chaotic hours as Games hit halfway
After a relatively quiet day, the first medal was claimed by the men’s 3×3 basketball team just before 17:00 BST.
A couple of hours later, three more followed in the space of five minutes.
The women’s wheelchair 3×3 basketball team took silver; Evans added her second gold – and third medal – of the Games in the 200m breaststroke; then Woods claimed gold in the women’s T54 1500m.
Shaw then joined in with bronze in the women’s S9 100m freestyle before MacInnes was edged into second place in the women’s 200m butterfly to take her second individual silver of the meet.
Around the same time, MacKenzie was leaping to long jump bronze, before the haul was completed in the pool when Evans and MacInnes teamed up with Katie Shanahan and Evie Davis to take silver in the women’s 4x100m medley.
Three more further medals are guaranteed in boxing – with fighters in semi-final action on Friday – while further prospects remain in athletics, bowls, cycling, judo and weightlifting.
The ultimate achievement would be to now emulate her old Solheim Cup skipper Catriona Matthew, who won the Women’s Open here at Lytham in 2009, just 11 weeks after giving birth to daughter Sophie.
The Scot plays down this remarkable achievement, saying it was easier than it would have been after the arrival of a first child.
“I spoke to her and I said, ‘I really don’t know how you did it,’” said Hall.
“You couldn’t dream of doing that. I couldn’t. She said, ‘Oh, it’s a lot easier with the second.’”
Hall asked for advice from Matthew, who told the Dorset star to manage expectations.
“Just as in expecting a little bit less, but not in a bad way,” Hall told BBC Sport.
“If you hit a bad shot, you’ve been out of it for a year. You’ve given birth to a human.
“So it will take some time, basically be patient. And that’s what I’m going to have in my mind this week.”
Hall will marry Conor’s father Paul Dunne, who led the 2015 Open as an amateur and beat Rory McIlroy to the 2017 British Masters title. The baby boy could hardly have more impeccable golfing genes.
And the new mum has already made sure of a family photo on the 18th green this week. Hall said: “It’ll be my new screensaver.”
Eight years ago the photos were of her clutching one of golf’s most prestigious trophies, but that is not her abiding memory.
“I think just holing so many putts,” she said.
“That’s why you play golf. It wasn’t even like holding the trophy at the end. It was the feeling you get from an accomplishment of holing great putts when it mattered.
“Just so many of them, I remember, and when I was playing practice rounds the last few days, I would remember, oh yeah, I hit it there and that pin position was there. So it is nice to relive.”
It is probably asking too much this week for Hall to reprise that 2018 victory when she finished 17-under-par to win by two shots. This year the remodelled links is baked out, providing a fast, firm and fearsome challenge.
“Definitely it’s one of the hardest,” said Hall. “This golf course is so hard and they made changes that make it harder. So I’m expecting scoring to be a bit tricky.
“But I’m improving every month and that’s just my only goal. I believe that my game’s in decent shape and if I can get in the right mentality and hole some decent putts, I think I’ll be OK.”
Having led Europe to a comfortable win at Rome’s Marco Simone Golf Club in 2023, captain Donald stayed in post to guide them to a stunning victory on US soil at Bethpage Black, in New York, in 2025.
At Adare Manor, he could become the first captain to win three in a row and will be only the fourth captain to lead at three straight Ryder Cups after Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Bernard Gallacher.
He says Harrington will form a key part of his backroom staff in his quest to make history.
“I’ve been around Padraig in many Ryder Cup team rooms, as a player, as a vice captain to his captaincy, and he’s been a vice captain before as well,” Donald said. “So he brings a wealth of experience.
“I do love the fact that there’s a connection. He understands the Irish crowds and all that goes with having a Ryder Cup in Ireland. I think it’s going to be very special for him.
“He’s loved in Ireland with what he’s achieved in the game, and that will only bring more energy to our team.”
It will be the first time the competition has been held in Ireland since 2006, when Harrington was in the European team that won 18½-9½ at the K Club, County Kildare.
“You wouldn’t want to miss out with it being in Ireland, so I’m very pleased,” Harrington added. “I think it will be a spectacular occasion and one of the great sporting events to be played in the country. The whole of Ireland will be behind it, watching it, enjoying it and living it.
“The fans are going to be fantastic, and I think the atmosphere will be second to none.”
In total, Harrington played in 25 matches across six Ryder Cups, winning 10½ points for Team Europe, while he also boasts 44 tournament victories across a glittering career.
He still plays on the DP World Tour and in major championships, most recently at The Open.
Since turning 50 in 2021, he has starred on the Champions Tour, including winning a record-equalling three US Senior Open titles.
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Commonwealth Games 2026: Soppy socks & a slathering of deep heat – rain causes chaos in Glasgow
Ryder Cup: Padraig Harrington named as Team Europe vice-captain
Women’s Open: Georgia Hall returns to venue of 2018 win five months after giving birth
Commonwealth Games 2026: Scotland claim eight medals in five chaotic hours as Games hit halfway
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CK Updates21 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Soppy socks & a slathering of deep heat – rain causes chaos in Glasgow
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CK Updates15 hours agoRyder Cup: Padraig Harrington named as Team Europe vice-captain
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CK Updates9 hours agoWomen’s Open: Georgia Hall returns to venue of 2018 win five months after giving birth
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CK Updates3 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Scotland claim eight medals in five chaotic hours as Games hit halfway