For Brittney Griner, a gold-medal Olympic run brings a gratitude for freedom

PARIS — Brittney Griner knew she would get emotional, but didn’t think it would be like this.

After the United States secured its eighth consecutive women’s basketball gold medal with a nail-biting 67-66 win over France, the teams had a break ahead of the medal ceremony while the podium was being assembled.

Griner found her way to the bathroom, the only place she could be alone, and “had a moment.” She composed herself, enough to go back and celebrate her third gold with her teammates, to walk out to the podium.

Yet when the American flag was raised and “The Star-Spangled Banner” blared through Bercy Arena, Griner couldn’t hold it in anymore, and there was no bathroom in which she could seek solitude. So she let the tears stream down her face as she soaked in the scene.

This is your moment

Take a bow, BG 🥇🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/tYNzhtdSm4

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 11, 2024

“It means so much to me, my family. I didn’t think I would be here,” Griner said. “And then to be here and win gold for my country, representing when my country fought for me so hard for me to even be standing here. This gold medal is going to hold a special place amongst the other two.”

Griner, 33, spent the majority of 2022 under Russian detainment, a confinement that the United States government designated as wrongful. She was arrested by Russian authorities for carrying a small amount of hashish oil into the country when she traveled to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg during her WNBA offseason. She was convicted of drug charges and sentenced to nine years in a penal colony. That December, she was freed in exchange for the U.S. releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who had been serving a 25-year sentence.

Griner often thinks about her time in Russia, if only to bask in how grateful she is now to be living the life she does — playing basketball again, living in the United States, starting a family with her wife, Cherelle. (The couple recently welcomed their first child together, a son.)

During this Olympic trip, there have been even more resonant reminders.

It was her first time playing overseas since being in Russia. She initially thought she might join the national team for an Olympic qualifying tournament in Belgium in February, but ultimately, she opted out. When she boarded the train to Paris from London, where the team played a friendly against Germany, she was reminded that the last time she was on a train overseas was on a prison train in Russia. Shortly after group play began, the United States negotiated another prisoner swap with several other Western countries and Russia to bring back three Americans held in Russian detention, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

“It’s a great day,” Griner said Aug. 1, the same day her team picked up its second Olympics win. “I am head over heels happy for the families right now. Any day that Americans come home, that’s a win.”

Griner said her teammates, coaches and family have been a constant support to her through the journey, and she noted she couldn’t have made this overseas trip to play basketball if not for the time she committed to therapy.

“When you see BG around the team, her outward, she’s OK, but you know that inside there’s a lot going on there,” U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve said. “But she always presents the very best version of herself, despite all that she went through. And she is thankful to be here. She’s so thankful to be here.”

Throughout her time in France, Griner consistently brought up her gratitude for returning to her teammates and to the game she loves.

“My country fought for me to get back,” Griner said. “And I was able to bring back gold for my country.”

(Photo of Brittney Griner: Daniela Porcelli / Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images)