From the starting line to the finish line, Jeneba Tarmoh has made a name for herself in the track. Though her strong stride and intensely focused exterior speak to how hard she has worked to get to the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow, it is her performance in the 2012 Olympic Trials that made a lasting impression.
Growing up in a single-parent home with her mother working two full-time jobs, Tarmoh learned what it looked like to give everything every single day. Though her family was not able to attend church very often because of her mother’s stress and exhaustion, Tarmoh was raised in a home where faith was valued. As a child, it was difficult for Tarmoh to understand the purpose of church other than a time to be with family and friends.
“Whenever we did go to church, at that age (eight), it was really hard for me to grasp the concept and sit down and listen to the pastor because to me I was just being forced by my mom,” she recalls.
It was not until her sophomore year in college that she became a Christian. Immediately, Tarmoh jumped deeper into learning more about God, which she says turned out to be exactly what she needed when she later decided to transfer schools.
“That year (2009) was actually a very difficult year for me because I had just transferred from the University of Tennessee, and I had to sit the year out [of track]. Watching other people compete – knowing that I could be out there competing, doing my best and letting other people see my talent, and letting people see [God] through me using my talent — that hurt,” she says.
“So I promised myself that next time I set foot on the track I would never, ever take my talent for granted. And I would always, always give glory, honor, and praise in victory and defeat. I think because I made that promise to myself in my relationship with [Christ], I continued to always try to do my best on the track and everything I did.”
Stepping Out Of Her Comfort Zone
When Tarmoh did finally have the opportunity to compete the next year, she made good on her promise and excelled so much that everyone around her began to ask when she was going to run professionally. While many athletes would jump at an opportunity to become a professional athlete at an early age, Tarmoh declined. If she went pro, she would not be able to run during her last year of college, and that was not the route she wanted to take.
“I kept telling people, ‘I am not leaving; I still want to be in college. I don’t even want to go pro; pro is not for Jeneba.’”
But God had other plans in mind, she says. No matter how hard Tarmoh tried to fight it, she felt that God had already made it clear that becoming a professional track athlete was her destiny. Through sleepless nights and strong convictions from God, it was just a matter of time before she completely surrendered to the calling she sensed from God.
“I just started reading the Bible, and when I read the story of Joseph, I started crying. I felt like something was telling me I need to get out of this place of comfort that I am in and go somewhere I am not used to so I can rely solely on [God],” she says.
Joseph, the youngest and favorite son of his father, Israel. In jealousy and hatred, his brothers beat him, stripped him of the elaborately ornamented robe their father presented to him and sold him into slavery. Later, through times of trial and victory, Pharaoh put him in command over all of Egypt and he was able to forgive his brothers because he knew that all of his pain was part of God’s plan to save Egypt from famine. While Tarmoh identified with the rejection Joseph experienced, she didn’t anticipate how her struggles would intensify in the days ahead.
As she sought to enter the professional world, struggles seemed to pile onto her shoulders. While Joseph had family members who hated him and wanted to see him dead, Tarmoh had many critics who wanted to kill her career opportunities. By hateful words and discouraging encounters, many people made it clear that she was not welcome and did not belong. It seemed almost impossible to get a professional contract.
“People said a lot of hurtful things; they did not do anything that was helpful to me. There were a lot of selfish people in the way in that process [of getting a contract],” she recalls. Like Joseph, she had the choice of dwelling on her hard circumstances with anger, frustration and sadness or continuing to believe that God would prevail. And just like Joseph, she never doubted that God was in control and going to provide.
“My agent came to me one day and said, ‘Jeneba, is this what you want? Because it is not looking good.’ And I sat there and I said, ‘You know what, what God has for me is for me. And no man can take that away,’ and then I made the [U.S.] team. That just solidified how I need to stay focused on God’s Word, and once I made that team, I got a contract.”
Slowly she began to make herself known in the professional world of track and field. Then in 2012, Tarmoh found herself at the U.S. Olympic Trials, where she ran in one of the most controversial races in track history.
The Race of Her Life
Smiling as she hugged her training partner Allyson Felix and friend Carmelita Jeter, Jeneba Tarmoh did what most college track athletes dream of: She qualified for the Olympics in the 100-meter dash. But not only did she run her hardest, she also beat teammate Felix — a favorite in the event — by .01 of a second. The stands seemed to erupt with joy as her name glimmered on the scoreboard after such a close race. It had finally happened: every drop of sweat, every single tear shed, and every single dream had become reality. At 22, Tarmoh was headed to the Olympics.
Little did she know that in less than 24 hours, her joy would be put on hold, and she would have to choose whether to fight for the spot she was given hours earlier or bow out of the race. The photo finish cameras could not conclusively declare her the winner, so she and Felix were left tied at the end.
“I felt weak; I felt like I was being punished,” she says. As Joseph was stripped of his elaborate colorful robe, Tarmoh was stripped of her medal and spot on the Olympic team. She felt betrayed by everyone, including the officials and even her training partner. She wondered how she could choose to race for a medal she already won.
“I even asked God, ‘Why are You doing this to me? I have been nothing but faithful.’” she said.
After years of getting deeper in her relationship with God and not being afraid to share the Bible, Tarmoh felt punished. Experiencing so many emotions — frustration, confusion, and downright anger — Tarmoh felt there was no way she could compete. She ultimately declined, feeling it was the right decision. Immediately, she felt peace in her heart, although her emotions wavered, especially toward God.
“One day I would say, ‘God why would You do this to me?’ and the next day I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, You’re so awesome. Thank you for everything You have done!’ I was definitely up and down,” she says. “But through that whole process, [God] kept telling me, ‘Keep on keepin’ on. It’s going to get worse before it gets better, but then the end product will be so much better.’”
That is exactly what happened. Not only did Tarmoh feel like she was fighting a battle with her own emotions, but she also had to undergo the scrutiny that came with bowing out of the competition. She was labeled a “quitter” by many and later was replaced on the 4x100m Olympic team that ended up not only winning, but also setting a world record.
It was a discouraging time that left Tarmoh questioning how God was going to work in her life. Like Joseph in his time of struggles, she began to see a greater purpose in her struggle.
TARMOH IS BACK: HOW HER HUMBLE OLYMPIC MOMENTS GLORIFY GOD
Now headed to Moscow for the World Track and Field Championships, there are many ways in which Tarmoh feels that God has blessed her spiritually and physically.
“Training is definitely feeling better. I am stronger, I am faster and I think I can handle a whole lot more on the track when it comes to rounds and personal records. I can do everything more efficiently.”
“Thinking about it now, I look back and realize I have such a huge fan base. I have influenced a lot of people in a positive way, and a lot of times when we go through things, we are very selfish,” she says. “We are only thinking about ourselves: me, me, me! And it’s really hard to see the big picture, but when I sit down and I look back, I say ‘God, I prayed for this; I asked You to use me to touch people and that’s exactly what You did. It may not have been the way I wanted it to be, but it was Your way and that’s all that matters.’”
By Natasha Shorts, AIA Communications Intern, with contributing author Tim Pitcher
Photo: Jeneba Tarmoh wins 200m heat at the 2012 Olympic Trials
Photo by Kirby Lee, Image of Sport
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