"Unbelievable" gold show overwhelmed three-way basketball players
This triumph came completely out of nowhere. Germany's women's basketball team wins gold in 3x3 at the Olympics. The packed Place de la Concorde witnesses emotional scenes, including a special guest.
The presence of basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki made Germany's completely shocked 3x3 Olympic champions even happier. Proud and overwhelmed, Svenja Brunckhorst, Sonja Greinacher, Elisa Mevius, and Marie Reichert posed on the winner's podium with the guest star who had passionately cheered for the quartet in the lively stadium on the Place de la Concorde in Paris.
"He's the German basketball legend. Our eyes sparkled. We even took a photo with him," Brunckhorst said after the thriller in the final. To celebrate the day, the gold medalists jumped around with the Dutch 3x3 Olympic winners, just like the fans from the neighboring country had done at the Euro football championship in Germany.
Completely unexpectedly, the quartet won gold at the Olympics debut. Even after thousands of spectators and Nowitzki had left the historic venue around midnight, the German team was still in the heart of Paris, planning the rest of their evening after the sensational triumph.
"It'll take a few weeks"
Organizing interviews, a press conference, and the upcoming reception at the German house at short notice: After winning the first Olympic medal ever, the German Basketball Association (DBB) suddenly had a lot to handle. Brunckhorst, Greinacher, Mevius, and Reichert wore their golden medals around their necks in disbelief.
"I haven't realized it yet. It'll take a few weeks. Germany has a gold medal in 3x3 - it's unbelievable," said Greinacher, who decided both the semifinal against Canada (16:15) and the final against Spain (17:16) with her last-minute shots. The team led by Brunckhorst and Greinacher celebrated qualifying in May as if it were a medal - and now, two and a half months later, they are indeed Olympic champions.
Superstar Nowitzki, who never won an Olympic medal himself, was right by the quartet's side. This also delighted 3x3 national coach Samir Suliman, who raved about the former Dallas Mavericks star after the evening. "Dirk is incredible, for us and for the players. It's out of reach. He's here, and he's high-fived them all. He's the greatest basketball player of all time in Germany. If he's there live when you become an Olympic champion as a player, what could be greater?" said Suliman.
The news of Germany's 3x3 basketball team's gold medal victory at the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris spread like wildfire, with fans from around the world celebrating their achievement. After the thrilling final against Spain, the team, including Svenja Brunckhorst, Sonja Greinacher, Elisa Mevius, and Marie Reichert, looked forward to their reception at the German house, proudly wearing their golden medals around their necks.
