Jadin O’Brien is a devout Christian who frequently credits her faith as her greatest source of strength and the foundation of her athletic success. Growing up in a large, deeply religious Irish Catholic family in Wisconsin, her spiritual life has guided her through an extraordinary athletic journey. She won three NCAA national indoor pentathlon championships at the University of Notre Dame—a school she specifically chose so she could openly practice her faith—before transitioning into a winter sport to compete for Team USA as a bobsledder in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
O'Brien's faith plays a visible role in both her recovery from hardships and her pre-competition routines:
Overcoming Adversity Through "Offering It Up": As a child, O'Brien battled a rare, deeply challenging condition known as PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections). Later in college, she suffered a severe quad tear. During these trials, she relied on the Catholic practice of "offering it up"—giving her pain and suffering to God to bring about a higher good.
Pre-Race Rituals: She famously keeps herself grounded during stressful elite meets by placing holy water on her thumb and making the sign of the cross over each section of the track or competition area before she competes.
Scripture: Her anchor scripture is Jeremiah 29:11, which reminds her that God has a specific plan to give her hope and a future.
Team Synergy: During her rapid rise in bobsledding, she was paired with five-time Olympian Elana Meyers Taylor. O'Brien has noted that their shared Christian faith gave them a unique bond and a "competitive edge" on the ice.
