- Olympic victory with Edelfan Nowitzki: 3x3 ladies win gold
The German 3x3 women's basketball team crowned an outstanding tournament and sensationally won Olympic gold. The quartet Svenja Brunckhorst, Sonja Greinacher, Elisa Mevius, and Marie Reichert defeated Spain in the Paris final with a score of 17:16, also winning Germany's first Olympic basketball medal. In the presence of former superstar Dirk Nowitzki and IOC President Thomas Bach, the debutantes held up under immense pressure and completed their grand coup impressively.
The German team started the final with a 3:0 run, but quickly had to accept the equalizer. The Spanish team improved, was more offensive, and took a 10:6 lead. However, Germany fought back, equalized, and ultimately celebrated Olympic victory.
Nowitzki praises the quartet
The 2.13-meter-tall Nowitzki sat in the front row of the lively stadium at Place de la Concorde, alongside Spain's King Felipe. He enthusiastically cheered on the team that started as an underdog just over a week ago. After the thrilling semifinal against Canada, Nowitzki had already joyfully celebrated and high-fived the four medal winners.
The 46-year-old star guest spoke of "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.
Leap into the world class
Brunckhorst, Mevius, Reichert, and the outstanding Greinacher played an excellent tournament, winning eight out of nine games. The quartet finally made the leap into the world class in front of a magnificent backdrop in the heart of Paris, leaving highly favored teams like the USA or Canada behind. Olympic gold was the well-deserved reward for consistency at the highest level.
Nowitzki, who carried the German flag in Beijing in 2008 but never won an Olympic medal, now has something to envy. "This is overwhelming. This is simply a dream come true," said Mevius, who only joined the team after a severe injury to Luana Rodefeld.
"It's unique for our girls. It's an incredible success," said President Ingo Weiss of the German Press Agency. For the federation chief, the triumph in Paris is "on a par with our men's world title in Manila. We've shown that we can also compete and celebrate successes in this new discipline."
Greinacher's winning shot just before the end reminded of Nowitzki himself, who decided the 2005 EM 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," said Brunckhorst after the semifinal.
The final day proved impressively why 3x3 tournaments enrich the Olympic Games. The games were varied and thrilling, with almost always full spectator stands in the temporary stadium. The sport appeals to many young people because the athletes are approachable. It was only the second time that the basketball variant was part of the Olympic program, with the German teams not represented in Tokyo in 2021.
The German team's impressive 3x3 basketball skills were on display during their 17-16 victory over Spain, as they showcased their ability to execute a 3:0 run at the start of the final. In an interview following the game, Nowitzki praised the team for their "historic success" and "incredible performance" in the 3x3 format.
