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Brittney Griner was already a two-time gold medalist, but her newest triumph with Team USA might surpass what she previously achieved in the Summer Olympics.
“My emotions are all over the place,” she said after the United States beat France 67-66 in Sunday’s final, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “It means so much to me. My family didn’t think I would be here, like I’ve said before, and then to be here and win and gold for my country, representing when my country fought for me so hard to even be standing here. Yeah, this gold medal is going to hold a special place.”
Griner was on Team USA for the Rio and Tokyo Games, and she was part of the U.S. when it won gold at the 2014 and 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Leading up to the 2024 Summer Olympics, though, she reflected on how this run felt different given the ordeal she experienced in Russia.
The nine-time WNBA All-Star was wrongfully detained for more than nine months in 2022. While in prison, she dealt with living conditions that made her feel “less than a human.”
Griner returned to the United States in December 2022.
Suiting up for the Phoenix Mercury the following May was an achievement all on its own. The 6’9″ center has continued to astound fans by hardly missing a beat on the court. She has averaged 17.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 46 games with Phoenix since coming back.
The combined presence of A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart meant Griner no longer needed to shoulder a heavy load for the United States. Still, she appeared in all six of Team USA’s games in Paris and averaged 7.3 points and 4.2 boards per contest.
Given her age (33), this was in all likelihood Griner’s last Olympic go-round, and she made the most of it.
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Publish date : 2024-08-11 12:05:00
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