The significance of the 2024 Paris Olympics for Brittney Griner will be profound, marking a pivotal moment in her career and personal life. As she prepares to represent her country for the third time in Paris, it will also be her first competition since enduring nearly ten months of detention in Russia on drug charges in 2022.
In an interview with NBC News on Friday, Griner expressed her readiness and focus: “BG is locked in and ready to go. I’m happy, I’m in a great place. I’m representing my country, the country that fought for me to come back. I’m gonna represent it well.”
The upcoming Olympics hold special significance for Griner beyond her athletic achievements. She will also be competing in Paris for the first time as a parent, having welcomed her son, Bash, with her wife on July 8. Griner admitted mixed emotions about leaving her young son, but emphasized that growing up in a sports-oriented family will help him understand her commitments: “Every minute I feel like he’s popping into my head. Literally everything revolves around him. And I love it.”
Reflecting on her previous Olympic experiences, Griner affirmed that the 2024 games will “100% mean more,” particularly because she will be competing for the country that “literally saved my life.”
The Paris Olympics will also mark Griner’s first international travel since her detainment in Russia. Following her arrest in Moscow in February 2022 and subsequent legal proceedings, which led to a nine-year prison sentence before her return to the U.S. in December 2022 through a prisoner exchange, Griner has successfully resumed her career in the WNBA. She has maintained a strong performance, earning WNBA All-Star honors in 2023 and this year, with current averages of 18.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Phoenix Mercury.
Having already secured two Olympic gold medals, Griner is determined to add another to her collection from Paris. Beyond her own events, she looks forward to spectating track and field competitions, a sport she has always admired. She also plans to relax in the basketball players’ lounge, where she may challenge members of the men’s team to games of Uno.
In addition to her athletic aspirations, Griner has specific interests for her visit to Paris. “Getting some really good bread, I’m not even gonna lie,” she joked, highlighting her enthusiasm for exploring the culinary delights of the city.
In summary, the 2024 Paris Olympics will be a momentous occasion for Brittney Griner, symbolizing resilience, personal milestones, and a renewed dedication to representing her country at the highest level of competition.
