Prisoner exchange
US star on course for gold after imprisonment in Russia
20 months after a prisoner exchange that freed her from a Russian penal colony, Brittney Griner is going for her third Olympic gold medal with the US women. "I didn't know if I would even play basketball again," said the 33-year-old after her team's 85-64 semi-final win over Australia in Paris on Friday.
"It was tough to come back. I'm just happy that my body held up and I can be here."
Griner was arrested at an airport in Moscow in February 2022 shortly before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She was sentenced to nine years in prison for carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. The basketball player, who was prescribed medical marijuana in her home country, pleaded guilty to making an "honest mistake". The substance is banned in Russia.
Prisoner exchange
After ten months in custody, Griner was released at the end of 2022 in a sensational prisoner exchange for the Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the "dealer of death", who was imprisoned in the USA. Five months later, the exceptional athlete made her comeback in the North American professional league WNBA, where she became a ten-time All-Star in the Phoenix Mercury jersey. The 2.06-meter woman has already won Olympic gold in 2016 and 2021.
Women, semi-final:
USA - Australia 85:64 (45:27)
France - Belgium 81:75 n.V. (66:66,31:36)
Final on Sunday:
USA - France (3:30 p.m.)
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