Brittney Griner is aware of solely too nicely the swirling feelings of being concerned in a prisoner swap, and he or she mentioned Thursday evening she is “head over heels” that fellow Individuals have been returned from Russia.
“Nice day. It’s an excellent day. It’s an excellent day,” Griner mentioned after the U.S. girls beat Belgium 87-74 to clinch a berth within the Paris Video games quarterfinals. “We’ll discuss extra about it later. However head over heels comfortable for the households proper now. Any day that Individuals come residence, that’s a win. That’s a win.”
The 2-time Olympic gold medalist went by way of her personal high-profile prisoner alternate with Russia in 2022 after having been sentenced to 9 years in jail for drug possession and smuggling.
So Griner was thrilled listening to that Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a company safety govt from Michigan, each convicted of espionage expenses that the U.S. authorities thought-about baseless, had been coming residence.
Griner didn’t share how she discovered of the prisoner alternate, however she mentioned she was “positively emotional” at listening to the information.
“I’m certain it’ll be emotional much more slightly bit in a while,” Griner mentioned. “Yeah. I’m simply comfortable. Like it is a large win. An enormous win.”
Griner returned to the U.S. in December 2022. Now, 19 months later, she is enjoying for the nationwide staff, which received its 57th straight on the Olympics. Griner scored seven factors whereas serving to the Individuals proceed their pursuit of an eighth straight Olympic gold medal.
Since returning to America, Griner has taken an energetic function in serving to different Individuals detained in overseas nations. She has labored with Deliver Our Households Dwelling, a marketing campaign shaped in 2022 by the members of the family of American hostages and wrongful detainees held abroad.
She additionally has spoken twice with President Joe Biden, together with as soon as in April to maintain the detainees “on the forefront of everybody’s thoughts.”
Griner additionally has gone by way of the readjustment to life again within the U.S., one thing she’s nonetheless working by way of.
“I do know they’ve an incredible group of individuals which are going to assist them out in no matter method they want them and their households,” Griner mentioned of the sources that will likely be accessible to Gershkovich and Whelan. “And I’m glad that I used to be capable of undergo that program and get reactivated again into on a regular basis life.”
These Olympics are the primary time she’s been abroad since her ordeal in Russia. On a practice journey from London along with her U.S. teammates, Griner felt anxious when she sat in her seat. It was her first time on a practice since heading to a Russian jail.
“Strolling as much as the practice I used to be effective,” Griner instructed The Related Press that day. “After I sat down and appeared out the window I used to be like, ‘Rattling, final time I used to be right here I used to be on my solution to jail.’ Nervousness began to intensify up. Then I noticed I used to be good, there have been no bars. I’m going to win gold.”
Griner turned to Netflix to calm her thoughts throughout a easy commute along with her U.S. teammates to the Paris Olympics.
“Every part was cool,” she mentioned.
That doesn’t imply her coach and teammates received’t be maintaining a tally of Griner.
U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve mentioned they had been extraordinarily comfortable for the households upon listening to the information, understanding the lads endured “simply terrible, terrible time” with out their family members again residence. Reeve’s thoughts went instantly to Griner, understanding how comfortable she is.
Reeve frolicked with Griner within the locker room after the sport.
“This can be a nice day as a result of she is aware of what for her what that was like,” Reeve mentioned. “And so now understanding and truly visualizing perhaps them going by way of the expertise, she appeared OK. However that’s Brittney. She at all times appears OK. … However we’ll definitely be checking on her.”
