Brittney Griner has opened up onher feelings after winning gold with Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France, this week. The event came just over a year after her release from Russian prison.
The Phoenix Mercury star spent most of 2022 locked up in Russia after getting arrested at an airport on drug charges. She was only released after the United States Government agreed to a prisoner swap that saw arms dealer Viktor Bout go the other way.
Griner cut an emotional figure after helping Team USA beat France in a 67-66 win in Sunday’s game against France, one marking an eighth-straight gold for the American women’s basketball team.
She was unable to hold back the tears during the national anthem and later explained how special her gold medal is to her as she knows the sacrifice her country had to make to allow her such an opportunity.
Two years ago, Brittney Griner was in a Russian prison.
Today, she gets an Olympic gold medal with Team USA.
That’s AWESOME. 🥇🇺🇲 pic.twitter.com/sIkezUp9kV
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) August 11, 2024
“My emotions are all over the place,” she said, 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.”
Brittney Griner’s Trip To The Olympics Still Brought Back Bitter Memories
While her route to another gold medal was an enjoyable one, Griner admits that there were a few moments that were hard for her, including a train ride, because the one she’d had before it was on her way to prison.
Brittney Griner started to get emotional as she received her gold medal and listened to the USA national anthem 🥺🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/97r52YHDUC
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 11, 2024
“I had little moments here and there,” she remarked. “The first train ride was a little rough for me. Last time I was on a train overseas, it was a prison train, so that was a little rough. But other than that, my teammates have been all there for me and my family and my wife being here. So I had a really good support system.”
Griner detailed her experience in a book called “Coming Home,” which launched earlier this year.
She’s now set to return to regular programming, with the WNBA scheduled to resume following Team USA’s gold medal triumph. Her Mercury will play Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky this Thursday.
