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Swimming for Freedom with Tera Bradham

This week on Walk it Out, I’m chatting with Tera Bradham.

We often think that God can use us best in our victories, but sometimes it’s in our hardships and pain that we discover the most about God … and about His unique plans for each of us.

Tera Bradham learned these lessons at a young age. Once the faster swimmer for her age in the US, Tera learned what she calls the “success of failure.” It’s not about whether or not you achieve the goal you’re aiming for, but who you become in the process.

In this week’s podcast, Tera shares about going from being one of the fastest swimmers in the country my age, on track for the Olympics, to dealing with an undiagnosed injury for seven years until she lost all quality of life and begged to die at age 19.

During her third surgery, doctors found one of her biceps degenerating inside her. And once her body healed, she went on toto swim for a Top 3 program. Tera barely missed making it to the Olympics, yet she shares how she’s found victorious living in her walk with God. And recently she’s launched a ministry for those who face chronic pain. Tera’s desire is to be a voice for those marginalized. I know you’ll enjoy this episode!

Who is Tera Bradham DeNeui?

Tera Bradham is an author, speaker, podcast host, and fitness coach, but she has also been a Spanish teacher, a swimming coach, a journalist, and a travel vlogger. After growing up in Round Rock, Texas, she swam for the University of Arkansas and for Texas A&M University before heading to South America on a year of missions with the World Race. God added another plot twist to her life when she met the man of her dreams, who happened to be from Montana. She now relishes the beauty of Bozeman’s mountains each day with her husband, Jacob. Her heart’s deepest passion is for others to know her extraordinary God who makes every day a miraculous adventure.

You can order Swimming for Freedom HERE.

About the Book:

Tera Bradham was born to prove people wrong. The fastest swimmer her age in the United States by age ten, many believed ”Tera the Terror” was destined for the Olympics.

Her fiercely competitive spirit and unmatched intensity knew no limits until Tera suffered a sudden, devastating shoulder injury that derailed her promising career. Although she trusted in God, she also wrestled with doubts of his goodness throughout subsequent years of misdiagnoses, chronic pain, and crippling disappointment. Her injury finally forced her to fully surrender to God.

Then her miracle came, or so she thought. Her shoulder was successfully reconstructed, and after two more years of grueling recovery, Tera found the courage to swim again and pursue her dreams with renewed faith.

Swimming for Freedom tells the inspirational story of Tera’s unconventional comeback and shows that through God, all things are possible. What started as an Olympic dream ended in her true miracle: the freedom of a life in Christ. Tera’s story will inspire you to rise up, dream again, and fight for his calling on your life.

Walk It Out Scripture

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
2 Corinthians 4:17

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Walk it Out #128: Swimming for Freedom with Tera Bradham