Brittney Griner took a moment to gather herself in the restroom before stepping onto the podium to celebrate her remarkable achievement. As the opening notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” played, emotions overcame her, and tears flowed as she proudly stood with her third Olympic gold medal hanging around her neck.
“This gold medal will hold a special place among the two I have already won,” Griner expressed.
This tournament marked her return to international play after enduring nearly 10 months of detention in Russia. Griner played a pivotal role in securing a historic eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal for the United States. Following her release, she received an outpouring of support through letters from fans worldwide, and she was grateful to return to the sport she loves. She anticipated she might shed a few tears if the U.S. team emerged victorious, but the depth of her emotions on the podium surprised even herself.
“My country fought for me to get back, and now I am able to bring home gold for my country,” Griner reflected. “There’s no greater feeling than being here on the highest stage.”
Griner averaged 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds coming off the bench during the Olympics, contributing four points in a nail-biting final against France, where the U.S. clinched the victory by just one point. Throughout the tournament, regardless of her playing time, she was a vibrant presence, constantly motivating her teammates during timeouts and cheering them on during matches.
“To think of someone who is a warrior, consistent, and a true professional, that’s BG,” said A’ja Wilson, the Olympic most valuable player. “She demonstrated that tonight and always does.”
Since returning in December 2022, Griner has seamlessly reintegrated into everyday life, making appearances at significant events, including the Met Gala and the Super Bowl. She was back in action at the start of the 2023 WNBA season, playing in 31 games and averaging 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. Additionally, she published a book sharing her experiences from her time in a penal colony.
U.S. head coach Cheryl Reeve maintained her support for Griner throughout this transition. Although Griner was slated to participate in Olympic qualifier games in Belgium back in February, Reeve acknowledged that perhaps Griner needed additional time to adjust.
“More than what she realized,” Reeve added.
Griner’s return to international travel represented a significant milestone, particularly for her longtime teammate Diana Taurasi, who noted that Griner’s first train ride since her release was challenging, as her last overseas train experience was a prison train.
“While BG may appear to be okay outwardly, inside, she has been through a lot,” Reeve noted. “She consistently presents her very best self and is profoundly thankful to be here.”
Griner attributes her return to basketball partly to therapy and expressed her gratitude for the unwavering support of her teammates during the Olympic journey in France, which spanned from Lille to Paris.
After facing a tough challenge from France, driven by a passionate home crowd, Griner embraced her wife, Cherelle. She plans to celebrate the victory by taking a memorable photo of their newborn son with the gold medal before resuming her commitments.
The Phoenix Mercury will make their return to the WNBA after the Olympic break with games scheduled for August 16-17.