Brittney Griner was visibly emotional as she listened to “The Star-Spangled Banner” after receiving a gold medal as a part of the U.S. girls’s basketball workforce’s win over France on the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
Griner, who as soon as determined to boycott the nationwide anthem altogether in protest of racial injustice within the U.S., advised reporters her “feelings had been everywhere” because the song blared in France.
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Brittney Griner, #15 of Workforce United States, wipes away the tears whereas on the rostrum after the nationwide anthem for the workforce’s gold medal victory throughout the US of America vs. France Girls’s Basketball Gold Medal Recreation on the Bercy Area through the Paris 2024 Summer season Olympic Video games on Aug. 11, 2024 in Paris. (Tim Clayton/Corbis by way of Getty Photographs)
The 6-foot-9-inch tall Phoenix Mercury heart had her hand over her coronary heart, in tears, as she remembered how far she had come since she was launched to the U.S. in a prisoner swap with Russia. Griner was held for 10 months after a conviction for drug offenses.
“My nation fought for me to get again,” Griner advised reporters on Sunday, by way of Yahoo Sports. “And I used to be capable of deliver residence gold for my nation. There’s simply no better feeling.”
Griner stated she didn’t suppose she can be again within the U.S., not to mention taking part in for her nation once more, making profitable the gold medal much more particular.
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Gold medallists Alyssa Thomas, left, and Brittney Griner of the US stand on the rostrum with Bronze medallist Jade Melbourne of Australia, proper. (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)
“And to be right here, profitable gold, for my nation, representing, when my nation fought for me so arduous to even be standing right here,” she added.
A’ja Wilson referred to as Griner a “warrior” as she described Griner’s time with Workforce USA greater than two years after her arrest overseas.
U.S. head coach Chery Reeve added that Griner was “grateful” to be with Workforce USA.
Brittney Griner, #15 of Workforce United States, drives to the basket defended by Iliana Rupert #12 of Workforce France, throughout the US of America vs. France Girls’s Basketball Gold Medal Recreation on the Bercy Area through the Paris 2024 Summer season Olympic Video games on Aug. 11, 2024 in Paris. (Tim Clayton/Corbis by way of Getty Photographs)
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“She was so grateful to be right here… I believe all of us ought to simply preserve checking on her as a result of it is unfathomable what she went by means of,” Reeve stated.
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