Clark refuses to hide her faith
By Mark Kiszla
Denver Post Staff Columnist

Bardonecchia, Italy - This is a story about snowboarding, Jesus and a rebel who stood up for what she believed even when her Olympic dream ended in tears.

Kelly Clark won't change your tastes in religion or sports, two devout American passions highly flammable when mixed.

But Clark might make you think again about the definition of a rebel.
Every culture has its protocol, even a culture as radical as snowboarding.
Clark follows her heart, not the rules.

The status quo in boarding is baggy pants, amped athletes and rock music banging so loud at the stadium that eardrums bleed. It's totally awesome.

Hannah Teter, an American who rides in beautiful defiance of gravity and talks like Jeff Spicoli from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," won gold Monday at the Winter Games, then gave her home state a hippy-dippy shoutout: "I just wanted to totally represent. It's the syrup. Vermont maple syrup."

So imagine the double-takes when, after finishing a disappointing fourth place in the finals, Clark said: "I love Jesus. It's more joyful knowing him than all that snowboarding stuff. And so being able to snowboard for him is amazing." Story