Xenia Hiebert is representing Paraguay at the 2024 Summer Olympics, taking place July 26-Aug. 11 in Paris.

Hiebert competes in the 100-meter dash. She lives in Loma Plata in Paraguay’s Chaco region and is a member of Manoah Mennonite Church.

In an interview with Die Mennonitische Post, the 25-year-old sports and English teacher said that as far she knows, she is the first Low German Mennonite to compete in the Summer Olympics.

“It is precisely because I am a devout Christian that I am an athlete,” she said. “In January 2020, God spoke to me through other people and told me very clearly that this is your life’s mission. ‘I need you here in this role.’ …

“I don’t know what it will all look like in detail, but I want to be a witness for others. I want to live out Christian values. When other people, athletes, etc., need help, I want to be there and help, always pointing to God through my actions. I see very clearly that God is blessing me and that he is guiding me. He has given me very clear signs that he wants me to go to Paris.”

Her goal in Paris is to break the 100-­ meter record for Paraguay, which she set in November at 11.61 seconds. Women’s 100m preliminaries take place Aug. 2.