Stevens Creek Runner in Olympic Marathon This Sunday

Pardon Ndhlovu, a native of Zimbabwe and active member at the Stevens Creek Church of God in Augusta, Georgia, will be competing in the Olympic men’s marathon set to take place this Sunday, August 21. It will be the final day of competition for the Olympic Games, which have been on-going for over two weeks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The marathon, a grueling 26.2-mile race through the streets of Rio, is scheduled to be aired on NBC television beginning at 8:00 a.m. EST.

Kevin Lloyd, executive pastor at Stevens Creek Church stated that Pardon was born and raised in Zimbabwe and moved to the United States to attend college at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Pardon Ndhlovu wraps himself in his native flag of Zimbabwe. He runs in the Olympic marathon this Sunday.(click photo to enlarge)

Pardon Ndhlovu wraps himself in his native flag of Zimbabwe. He runs in the Olympic marathon this Sunday.(click photo to enlarge)

Growing up, Pardon did not own a pair of running shoes, but earned a scholarship in track and field at Pembroke. He then transferred to Augusta College where he pursued a masters degree and served as an assistant running coach.

“Pardon has been attending Stevens Creek for two years and participates in student groups and leads in student ministry,” Lloyd stated. “Pardon is a person of faith that is larger than life. He is an overcomer. When you are around him you want to be a better person.”

Pardon’s quest to run for his country began when he qualified last year at a marathon in Houston. He has a twin brother and has always considered himself the “slower twin” but he worked hard, running 120 miles per week during his training. He has spent the last two weeks in Rio living in the athlete’s village among some of the towering names in running, including American Galen Rupp and Meb Keflezighi, who at 41, will be the oldest U.S. marathoner in Olympic history.

Pardon has begun a movement called Sports and Education for African Youth Empowerment, an organization to assist young Africans in similar situations as what he encountered growing up in Zimbabwe. He collects running shoes and gives them to young runners in Zimbabwe when he travels back home, using this platform to point people to Christ. He has an active Facebook page that features many interviews and videos of his training and testimony.

“For Pardon, the Olympics are not about running,” Lloyd said. “But who he is running for.”

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