Brittney Griner Reveals Why She Teared Up During National Anthem After Winning Gold: 'My Country Fought for Me to Get Back'

Mar. 15, 2025

Brittney Griner tears up as the “Star Spangled Banner” played at the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 11th, 2024.Photo:Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty; Jean Catuffe/Getty

Brittney Griner

Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty; Jean Catuffe/Getty

Getting a chance to compete at the2024 Paris Olympicswas already a win in itself forBrittney Grinerfollowing her nearly10-month imprisonment in Russia.The WNBA star, 33, revealed that she teared up as the “Star Spangled Banner” played followingthe U.S. women’s basketball team’s 67-66 victory over Francebecause it was a moment she didn’t think she would get to experience.“My country fought for me to get back. And I was able to bring home gold for my country. There’s just no greater feeling,” the Phoenix Mercury player said about the Sunday, Aug. 11 win, perYahoo Sports.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Althoughthis is Griner’s third Olympic gold medal, she noted that her emotions were “all over the place,” as this one would “hold a special place amongst the other two.““I didn’t think I would be here,” she said, per Yahoo Sports.According toOlympics.com, the athlete contributed four points and two rebounds during the game and dedicated the win to her newborn son,Bash. Grinerwelcomed Bashwith her wife,Cherelle Griner, in July.Brittney Griner playing during a game at the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 9, 2024.Manu Reino/Europa Press via GettyThe win comes more than two years aftershe was detained in Russia on Feb. 17, 2022, after a customs dog allegedly found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her carry-on bag. Griner was initiallysentenced to nine yearsin prison, but she wasreleased in a prisoner swapon Dec. 8, 2022.In May, Griner opened up to PEOPLE about howher imprisonment left her fearful of traveling internationally.“My wife and I [used to enjoy going] down to Mexico for a bit. But now I’m just like, ‘Nah, I can’t do it.' We can go to a beach in America. There’s plenty of beaches here. There were countries I wanted to visit before, but [not] now,” she said.Brittney Griner with her gold medal following 2024 Paris Olympics.Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The basketball star, however, told PEOPLE that she was open to traveling to Paris for the Olympics because “the same country that brought me home would protect its Olympic athletes.”

Getting a chance to compete at the2024 Paris Olympicswas already a win in itself forBrittney Grinerfollowing her nearly10-month imprisonment in Russia.

The WNBA star, 33, revealed that she teared up as the “Star Spangled Banner” played followingthe U.S. women’s basketball team’s 67-66 victory over Francebecause it was a moment she didn’t think she would get to experience.

“My country fought for me to get back. And I was able to bring home gold for my country. There’s just no greater feeling,” the Phoenix Mercury player said about the Sunday, Aug. 11 win, perYahoo Sports.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Althoughthis is Griner’s third Olympic gold medal, she noted that her emotions were “all over the place,” as this one would “hold a special place amongst the other two.”

“I didn’t think I would be here,” she said, per Yahoo Sports.

According toOlympics.com, the athlete contributed four points and two rebounds during the game and dedicated the win to her newborn son,Bash. Grinerwelcomed Bashwith her wife,Cherelle Griner, in July.

Brittney Griner playing during a game at the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 9, 2024.Manu Reino/Europa Press via Getty

Brittney Griner

Manu Reino/Europa Press via Getty

The win comes more than two years aftershe was detained in Russia on Feb. 17, 2022, after a customs dog allegedly found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her carry-on bag. Griner was initiallysentenced to nine yearsin prison, but she wasreleased in a prisoner swapon Dec. 8, 2022.

In May, Griner opened up to PEOPLE about howher imprisonment left her fearful of traveling internationally.

“My wife and I [used to enjoy going] down to Mexico for a bit. But now I’m just like, ‘Nah, I can’t do it.' We can go to a beach in America. There’s plenty of beaches here. There were countries I wanted to visit before, but [not] now,” she said.

Brittney Griner with her gold medal following 2024 Paris Olympics.Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty

Brittney Griner

Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The basketball star, however, told PEOPLE that she was open to traveling to Paris for the Olympics because “the same country that brought me home would protect its Olympic athletes.”

source: people.com