TEAM USA star Brittney Griner was emotional after winning Olympic gold in Paris.
The center contested its first Games since being freed from a Russian penal colony through a prisoner exchange in 2022.
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She helped the USA beat hosts France 67-66 in a thrilling final to win their third gold medal.
“This one meant a lot to me,” Griner said.
“I mean, just getting a chance to play for gold, represent my country, what my country did for me. Yes, this is the highest point right here.”
Griner, 33, was sentenced to nine years in prison in Russia and spent 10 months in prison.
She spent 10 months in prison before American authorities managed to negotiate her exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout.
The Phoenix Mercury center was playing in Russia during the WNBA break and vowed to never play internationally again unless it was for her country.
“It’s been a long journey, a difficult journey to get back to that,” she added.
“I’m really happy that my body was able to hold on and be here.
“Waking up, going to train, even when you don’t want to practice, having the opportunity to do this, because we let it pass.
“This is the opportunity we have and I appreciate every second I can get now.”
Griner scored a record 30 points in the Tokyo 2021 gold medal game and had four in five minutes on Sunday.
During the Olympics, the US managed to secure another prisoner exchange, allowing former Marines Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to return home.
Griner is an advocate for other wrongfully imprisoned Americans – a role she takes very seriously.
“She is a grateful person for all the support she has received through all of this,” said teammate Diana Taurasi.
BRITTNEY GRINER PRISON HELL
WNBA legend Brittney Griner spent nearly 10 months in a hellish Russian prison in a case that became closely tied to global tensions between the US and Russia.
February 17, 2022: Brittney Griner is detained at a Moscow airport after customs agents found cannabis vapor cartridges in her luggage.
February 24th: The Russian army invades Ukraine, provoking the biggest land conflict in Europe since World War II.
March 17: Griner’s pretrial detention is extended for another two months a day after President Biden classifies Vladimir Putin as a “war criminal.”
March 18: The U.S. State Department issues its first statement on Griner’s case, demanding access to the star athlete and Houston native.
March 23: Griner meets with US authorities for the first time after more than a month in prison.
May 6: Griner is honored by the WNBA at the start of the new season with a decal featuring her initials and her jersey number, 42.
May 25: Griner’s wife, Cherell, appears on Good Morning America and asks Biden to bring her husband home.
June 20: Cherelle says she lost “trust” in the U.S. government after a planned birthday call between Griner and his wife fell through.
July 1st: Griner’s trial begins in Russia.
July 4th: Griner writes a letter to President Biden begging for help. She tells him that she fears being kept in prison in Russia “forever.”
July 7th: Griner pleads guilty in court to drug charges but says it was an accident and she never planned to break Russian law.
August 4th: Griner is found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison. Biden criticizes the verdict and calls for her to be released “immediately”.
October 25th: Griner’s appeal against his nine-year sentence is rejected after just half an hour.
November 9th: Griner is transferred to a brutal Soviet-era penal colony to serve her sentence.
December 8: Griner’s release is confirmed after months of negotiations as part of a prisoner exchange with Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
“And it wasn’t easy. And it’s still not easy for her. She still carries a huge burden to make sure everyone gets out.
“She carries this very heavy burden on her shoulders.”
Team USA women’s basketball stars won their eighth consecutive gold.
The men secured fifth place after also defeating France in the final.
Victor Wembanyama recorded 26 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal, keeping France in the game until the final seconds.
But Steph Curry, 36, ensured the USA would take home the gold for the fifth consecutive time with a flurry of 3s.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
