There’s considerable respect to be earned for staying true to your beliefs or making sacrifices in accordance with your faith.
Brendan Johnston, a former high school wrestler from Colorado, exemplifies this. In 2018, he made the decision to forfeit two state tournament matches that were scheduled against female opponents.
This decision effectively marked the end of his high school wrestling career, as he cited his religious and personal convictions as the reasons for declining the matches.
The topic of pitting adult males against adult females in athletic competitions is increasingly discussed today.
Many believe it’s unfair to have men and women compete directly due to inherent biological and physiological differences, creating an uneven playing field.
In 2018, 18-year-old Brendan Johnston declined to wrestle Jaslynn Gallegos of Skyview High in the first round and Angel Rios from Valley High in a subsequent consolation match at a state tournament. Brendan, then a senior at the Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, expressed discomfort with the idea of physically competing with young women, citing both religious beliefs and personal upbringing.
He emphasized that while he views men and women as equal in value, he recognizes inherent differences between the sexes.
As a result of Brendan’s decision, he placed sixth in the tournament, while Angel and Jaslynn placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Jaslynn expressed disappointment with Brendan’s decision, stating her belief that her gender shouldn’t hinder her as an athlete.
What are your thoughts on Brendan’s decision? Share in the comments below. If you found this discussion interesting, check out related articles for more insights.
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