To Row or Not to Row

February 22, 2013

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve”– Joshua 24:15

The world of professional sport is foreign to most of us who only see a flash of athletic brilliance every now and then on the television screen. But the truth is, sport consumes so much of an athlete’s life. Often, sport is a joy, as the rush of competition redeems seemingly endless hours of training and practice. And for the many Christian athletes who spend years in pursuit of their dreams, there is both opportunity and temptation: the chance to glorify God in sport, and the risk of it becoming an idol.

Meet Jaclyn Halko, the Uxbridge native who got involved with Athletes in Action (AIA) while a student at Western University.

“I loved the atmosphere,” says Jaclyn, fondly remembering the AIA campus ministry. “There were 30 of us: a rowdy rambunctious group, passionate about sport and God. It was such a huge, exciting time for me.”

During the course of university, Jaclyn was discipled by AIA staff, built friendships, and regularly attended events and retreats. Then, in 2009, her rowing abilities started to get recognized.

In her last season, she won MVP and a silver medal in the lightweight women’s single sculls event at the Canadian University Rowing Championships in Fort Langley, BC.

“I wanted to retire from rowing because it was expensive and so I was looking for a job, trusting God.” But He had other plans. Incredibly, Jaclyn received an email to try out for the World University Games in Hungary.

Jaclyn not only competed in the regatta, she won the bronze medal in the lightweight women’s double sculls.

She came home from Hungary overwhelmed with joy, but again, leaning towards retiring. “It just so happened there was a time trial the day after I flew home,” she says, recalling the irony of her past. “I raced and won, so RowOntario gave me some money to go to the national championships. I thought, ‘Might as well!’”

In September of 2010, Jaclyn travelled to Victoria, BC and won the lightweight women’s single, which she says was “amazing and surprising.”

But by this point, Jaclyn had submitted her application to work as an intern in Poland. And, as life would have it, irony abounded. The exact same day that AIA (Power to Change) accepted her application, the Canadian national team requested her rowing prowess and offered her a salary in exchange.

“I had to choose one or the other. I felt very strongly that I wanted to go to the London Olympics, but my heart was moreso pulled to God and His work. I believe God would have honoured either decision, but I chose to go to Poland.”

So, in February of 2011, with Canada’s offer still ringing in her ears, she left.

In years gone by, Jaclyn had wisely reached out to the Polish national team coach, thinking that connection might come in handy; it did. She had the opportunity to represent Poland at the 1st and 2nd World Cup in 2011.

She continued to train in Warsaw, while working primarily with the strong AIA basketball ministry in Poland. She learned Polish, met with new friends, and established trust in a nation that generally regards faith as an extremely private issue. “It was difficult to go to a deeper level,” recalls Jaclyn, “so I cooked for them, cared for them, served; I really enjoyed contributing my experience to theirs.”

But what began in certainty soon consumed all of Jaclyn’s energy, strength, and time. “I sacrificed a lot to try and make the Olympics. 2012 was one of the hardest years of my life. I was isolated from fellowship when training with the national team… God wasn’t number one.”

In the non-Olympic World Championships in August, Jaclyn and her team won the lightweight women’s quadruple sculls. And finally, after victory in Poland, Jaclyn returned home, resigning from the Polish rowing team.

“I had had enough, but when I came home I experienced reverse culture shock: it was the deepest valley of my life.” Jaclyn recalls those days with deep sincerity. “I was unsure of who I was, what I was doing. I had forgotten that God is the only thing that will sustain you and give you peace. I wasn’t looking to Him for that.”

After a month, Jaclyn surrendered and quit her beloved sport of rowing. “I said, ‘God, I’m miserable. If rowing is first, I’m letting it go.’” Jaclyn’s understanding of God is not a harsh master that demands payment of the things we love. Instead, she explains, “He is so good. He gave it back to me. ‘You are meant to row,’ He said.”

And wouldn’t you know, as irony returned once again to frequent Jaclyn’s rowing career, the Canadian national team invited her back to compete on the international stage.

Jaclyn is now based in London, ON at Canada’s national training center living out her dream. Which is?

“To see other people find the same love and fulfillment in life that I have in Jesus Christ.”

One Response to “To Row or Not to Row”

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• claudia Belsly Stephens says:

  March 6, 2013 at 5:01 pm

  Jaclyn, I am so proud of you and your decisions. I loved seeing this article and catching up on you. If you ever get to the states – specifically Kansas City, Mo, you have a place to stay. Love you. claudia