Brittney Griner feels grateful to wear US jersey and be back at Olympics after scary Russian imprisonment

PARIS, FRANCE: Brittney Griner makes a triumphant return to the Olympics after enduring a harrowing 10-month detention in Russian custody.

The basketballer, who had gone through a tough time during the detention, is slowly getting back on track as she happily poses for pictures with fans and is focused on her game.

Brittney Griner's third Olympics

Brittney Griner, who will be serving as a defensive anchor for the US team aiming for its record eighth consecutive gold medal, will begin playing early next week in what would be her third Olympics, according to USA Today.

As a member of the Tokyo and Rio teams, the 33-year-old WNBA player who has already won two gold medals in the sport would find the Paris 2024 Olympics to be a different experience following her scary Russian imprisonment.

On Monday, July 29, Griner will don the Team USA jersey again when the US takes on Japan in the first game of pool play in Lille, France.

This will mark the third team she's worn the jersey since her return from Russia. On July 20, Griner played in the USA’s 117-109 loss to the WNBA All-Stars

She also played in the USA’s 84-57 win over Germany on July 23 in its final tune up before the beginning of Olympics on July 24. 

Brittney Griner's teammate doubles down on her return to Olympics

Speaking about Brittney Griner's challenging years, her teammate Diana Taurasi, who is part of both the Olympics and the Phoenix Mercury with Griner, said, “What BG’s gone through in the last couple years is obviously unprecedented."

“To be able to put this jersey back on, to be at opening ceremony last night, Obviously I’m pretty close with BG and I know she feels grateful, thankful … for her to be able to come back, to get on that flight to come overseas, it was a big moment for her in a lot of ways. But I’m glad she did it, because she’s a remarkable person," Taurasi added.

In her memoir 'Coming Home' which was released on May 7, 2024, Griner has opened up about her time behind bars.

At the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki, Griner was taken into custody on February 17, 2022, for having vape cartridges with hashish oil, which is against the law in Russia.

The WNBA sensation admitted guilt in July 2022 but denied intent as she explained she did not mean to have the hashish oil in her luggage.

She was released in December 2022 as part of a prisoner exchange between the US and Russia for notorious convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.