French basketball star Victor Wembanyama expressed that the team’s loss to the United States in the men’s basketball final at the Paris Games will serve as motivation for himself and his teammates to pursue a gold medal at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Despite facing Team USA in the final at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and suffering another defeat, Wembanyama remains optimistic. “We have diamonds coming out of our country, so we have every chance. If it wasn’t this time, it will be the next,” he said.
Wembanyama scored 26 points during the final, but it was not enough to overcome the strong US team, led by Stephen Curry, who secured a 98-87 victory with key three-pointers in the final moments of the game.
“We can’t take this for granted. In a tournament like this, things can switch in a moment. The games were really high intensity, and we could have lost by 20 points, but we kept fighting,” the 20-year-old player remarked. He is determined to aim for gold in the next Olympic Games.
Although France faced disappointment by finishing with another silver medal, Wembanyama reflected on the experience positively, stating, “I never dreamed of this moment. It is incredible. I couldn’t have asked for a better team or better coaches. Everyone contributed, and it was an awesome experience.”
He emphasized that they did not waste their efforts and proudly wore the Olympic medal around his neck. Wembanyama called for learning and growth within the team and expressed confidence in the next generation of players. “If it wasn’t this time, it will be the next,” he concluded.