Olympic swimming great Stephanie Rice has hit out at critics who questioned her decision to quit her job because ‘God asked me to resign’ – leaving her with ‘no source of income’. Rice, 38, revealed earlier this year that she was offered to be promoted from to CEO, her ‘dream position… but God asked me to resign’ as a director of her company instead. ‘I obeyed,’ she said. The three-time gold medallist this week said that she remains convinced she made the right choice.Rice – who recently announced she would use her married name Stephanie Lassey going forward – said this week that she remains convinced she made the right choice.’There are a lot of people who have been commenting on my post like, ‘That’s stupid!’ And I’m like, ‘You don’t get it,’ she said.Her latest explanation came as she discussed a passage about wisdom from the biblical book of James on Instagram. Stephanie Rice has defended quitting her job after saying God told her to resign Rice publicly shared her conversion to Christianity in 2024 and married Kingdomcity pastor Mark Lassey in Perth in January 2025 The three-time Olympic gold medallist became emotional while responding to critics on Instagram’So many people have seen that God asked me to resign from my job earlier this year, and God so clearly told me to resign,’ she said.Rice also repeated a critical comment questioning the financial consequences of her decision.’I see comments that are like, ‘Wow, not exactly being a great promotion for God. Like, resigning and not having any savings left,’ she said.But she insisted her circumstances would ultimately demonstrate the strength of her faith.’And I’m like, actually, let me tell you and let me declare, this is the best promotion for God,’ she continued.’Because what He is about to do, there is no denying that it is Him and Him alone.’Becoming emotional, Rice acknowledged that trusting in what came next had been difficult.’It has been a really, like, stripping season,’ she said. Rice said she turned down an offer to become CEO, a position she described as her dream, and instead quit her job The former swimmer acknowledged it had been difficult to trust what would come next’But it’s really tough when you’re right in the middle of it, when you’re believing and you’re holding on.’The response follows a deeply personal account of her life after swimming, in which Rice said she had struggled to separate her identity from her achievements.’I’ve won Olympic gold. Made millions of dollars, lost almost everything. Found Jesus,’ she wrote.Rice described public scrutiny, hate comments, legal battles and failed businesses as setbacks that repeatedly undermined her hope for the future.She said her first corporate role had brought her more money than she had earned in years, before she chose to resign.’I’m back at zero,’ she wrote, describing herself as ‘rebuilding at 38’.Rice publicly shared her conversion to Christianity in 2024 and married Kingdomcity pastor Mark Lassey in Perth in January 2025.She has also begun moving to a new Instagram account under her married name, leaving behind an established audience of about 140,000 followers. Rice won three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before retiring from swimming in 2014Join the discussionShould personal faith justify major life decisions even when it means risking financial security?What’s your view?The swimmer acknowledged that starting again might appear ‘part crazy’, but said she wanted her new account to reflect her faith and the next stage of her life.Rice became one of Australia’s biggest sporting names at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning three gold medals, all in world-record times.She retired from competitive swimming in 2014.Now, she says she is relying on her religious beliefs to guide another uncertain chapter.’I pray that you would endure because that blessing is coming.’