Gold sensation crowns show of German 3x3 basketball players
Making their debut and winning gold: Germany's 3x3 women's basketball team pulls off the ultimate upset at the Olympic Games. In front of Dirk Nowitzki, they defeat Spain in the final.
Germany's 3x3 women's basketball team capped off an outstanding tournament by sensationally winning Olympic gold. The quartet of Svenja Brunckhorst, Sonja Greinacher, Elisa Mevius, and Marie Reichert defeated Spain in the Paris final, 17:16, also winning Germany's first-ever Olympic basketball medal. Under the watchful eyes of former superstar Dirk Nowitzki and IOC President Thomas Bach, the debutants held their nerve and completed their historic feat.
The German team started the final with a 3:0 run, but Spain quickly leveled the score. The Spanish team stepped up their game, were more aggressive offensively, and took a 10:6 lead. However, Germany fought back, equalized, and ultimately celebrated their Olympic victory.
The 2.13-meter tall Nowitzki sat in the front row of the lively stadium at Place de la Concorde, cheering on the team that started as underdogs just a week ago. After the thrilling semifinal against Canada, Nowitzki had already enthusiastically celebrated and high-fived the four medalists.
The 46-year-old guest of honor called it "a historic success" and "an incredible performance." Franz and Moritz Wagner, as well as parts of the women's national team, were also in the audience to watch the tournament's climax.
"It's overwhelming," Mevius said, who only joined the team after a serious injury to Luana Rodefeld. "It's just a dream right now."
"This is unique for our girls. It's an incredible success," President Ingo Weiss told the German Press Agency. For the federation boss, the triumph in Paris is "on a par with our men's World Cup title in Manila. We've shown that we can also compete and win in this new discipline."
Leadership from Greinacher
Greinacher's winning shot near the end of the game was reminiscent of Nowitzki himself, who decided the 2005 European Championship semifinal against Spain in the final seconds. This time, the sports star sat relaxed on the sidelines, grinning at the historic success for German basketball. The 32-year-old Greinacher shone not only as a player but also as a leader. "Just before the end, Sanni said: We have one minute left to play for the greatest dream of our lives," Brunckhorst said after the semifinal.
The final day proved why 3x3 tournaments enrich the Olympic Games. The games were varied and exciting, with almost full spectator stands in the temporary stadium. The sport appeals to many young people because the athletes are approachable. This was only the second time that the basketball variant was part of the Olympic program, with German teams not represented in Tokyo in 2021.
The historical victory of Germany's 3x3 women's basketball team sparked excitement among fans, including former NBA star Dirk Nowitzki. Their thrilling 17:16 victory over Spain secured Germany's first Olympic basketball medal in the sport's Paris debut. Sonja Greinacher, a standout player and leader, emulated Nowitzki's clutch performance with a winning shot in the final minutes.
