On the track, Noel Pix-Pace sprinted, dove headfirst into a “cookie sheet” and raced down the ice at 90 miles per hour. Off the course, she learned to bow down to outcomes beyond her control, make a deal, and trust God.
In a recent Church News podcast, the Olympic medalist, inspirational speaker, author, wife and mother reflected on a journey that included a devastating accident, a near-miss by a tenth of a second at the 2010 Olympics, and her family’s first comeback to win a silver medal in 2014, all centered around her faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She explained that while many people saw the Olympic moments and podiums, for her it was a journey of sacrifice, struggle, emotion, and joy. “We had to struggle through that valley to see that view.”
“Healing will definitely come”
Just when her dream seemed certain, the lowest valley came. Pix Pace, ranked number one in the world and competing in the 2006 Olympic trials, was injured en route to Turin, Italy, when his leg was shattered by an out-of-control bobsled.
“There was a time in my life when I had to say, ‘Heavenly Father, this is where I need to be. This is what the Lord wants me to do,'” she recalls, adding, “Whether it’s physically, mentally, spiritually or emotionally, healing takes time. But when the Lord is with me, that healing always comes.”
As she returned to competition, her prayers changed from seeking results to submitting to God’s formation. “We can have faith, but what happens to us if we don’t have the courage to act on that faith? And by having the courage to say, ‘Heavenly Father, I trust you. I place my life in your hands,’ the Lord was able to create something even more beautiful than I could have imagined.”
Relief from 4th place onwards
Four years later, that one-tenth of a second difference is remembered by millions in Vancouver, and for her, the result is a lesson in identity and perspective. On her fourth and final run, after the letter “4” flashed next to her name, she felt something amazing.
“I just remember being relieved,” she said, adding, “I wanted it to be over before it started.”
She expressed her feelings of being torn apart. “I just wanted to be with my daughter and my husband. … Every time I played a game, I wanted to go home, and every time I went home, I felt like I should be at the game.”
She felt the need to step away, learn how to stay home, and once again seek God’s direction.
Coming Back—As a Covenant-Keeping Family
The decision to return to the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, was born out of a shared desire with her husband Jansson. “We only do this if we as a family can demonstrate really good, healthy family values and share them with the world.”
During that time, she drew strength from the advice of her mentors. As stake Young Women president, she began wearing the Young Women medallion again after a leadership message that encouraged youth to “understand who they are and where their goals lie.”
“It taught me to live without excuses,” she said, adding, “God wants a strong people. God wants us to be strong and capable and to use our talents for good.”
Her simple prayer before the final run in Sochi reflected her discipleship. “No matter what happens, first, last, middle, crash, your will be done. Please help me know what to say… so I can be the light and reach the full potential you see in me.”
The young people later told her that they recognized fellow Latter-day Saints on television because of the necklaces.
“I had no idea,” she said, adding, “I didn’t have to say what I was going to say, but my Heavenly Father was guiding my life the whole time.”
Jesus Christ helped her every moment. “We need the Savior to be with us,” she said.
find out her true identity
Pikus Pace acknowledged the identity crisis that many athletes, and many of his disciples, feel as seasons change. She referenced the teachings of the late President Russell M. Nelson regarding our three core identities: children of God, children of the covenant, and disciples of Jesus Christ.
“Knowing that I am a daughter of God helps me strive to keep my covenants every day, and by keeping my covenants every day, I know that I am on the right track,” she said. “I know…everything’s going to be okay, and it’s going to be better than OK.”
