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Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star player for the Phoenix Mercury, is preparing for the upcoming Paris Olympics with a renewed appreciation for wearing the Team USA jersey.
After enduring a nine-year prison sentence in Russia for drug possession and being released in a high-profile prisoner swap, Griner reflected on her experience and its impact on her feelings about representing her country.
“It means everything to me honestly,” Griner said. “For me to now have the honor to wear it again and potentially win gold is icing on the cake for everything.”
She acknowledged a change in her perspective on the national anthem after returning from captivity, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to compete again.
“It’s like when you go for the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to get gold put on your neck, the flags are going up, and the anthem is playing, it just hits different,” she said.
Griner also addressed criticism regarding her past protests during the anthem, emphasizing her American rights and her family’s military background.
“Everyone has made a mistake before,” Griner said.
“The unpatriotic thing, that blows my mind, because, one, my dad fought for this country, ’68, ’69, Vietnam Marines and law enforcement for 30 plus years. Dad was my hero. I wanted to be a cop. I didn’t want to play basketball growing up, I wanted to be a cop and go into the military, actually. And doesn’t it make me more American that I’m demonstrating a protest? That’s my right as an American, so for me to be called un-American, I was blown away at that.”
As she heads to the Olympics, Griner feels a sense of security with Team USA and is balancing her professional endeavors with personal milestones, including the recent birth of her son.
“It’s different, it’s way different,” she said. “The level of comfortability and security we have right now makes it a lot easier.”
“Think outside the Olympics, someone’s personal experience and what she went through and still continues to go through,” Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve said. “We were all thinking of BG when she was away, and we didn’t know if this moment would be possible. I’m thrilled for her personally and thrilled for our basketball team.”
Team USA aims to defend its gold medal, starting with a group-phase game against Japan on July 29.