CNN
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Free of a Russian penal colony and again on American soil, WNBA star Brittney Griner bought her first style of a return to regular life over the weekend at a Texas army facility.
The Olympic gold medalist arrived Friday at Brooke Military Medical Middle in San Antonio and is now staying along with her spouse, Cherelle Griner, in a residential setting on the bottom – one her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, embellished with a Christmas tree.
Griner, 32, is “upbeat, grateful and hopeful,” Colas informed CNN, after returning to the states from what US officers deemed wrongful detention in Russia.
For Griner – who spent practically 10 months in Russian custody – “regular” has meant indulging in her favorites, together with a Dr Pepper soda, the primary drink she had within the airplane hangar after touchdown.
Griner’s family even have visited her on and off for hours, bringing San Antonio barbecue for her to get pleasure from.
The athlete has been consuming much more nutritious meals and dietary supplements in contrast along with her time in detention, Colas stated. “Her vitality degree was actually excessive,” she added.
Griner additionally bought a haircut to scrub up her “Russian fade,” as her family and friends jokingly name it, Colas stated. Griner’s lengthy, signature deadlocks had been reduce whereas in captivity as she repeatedly battled the flu as a result of her moist hair saved freezing, Colas stated.
On the Texas army base, Griner hit the basketball court docket for the primary time since she was imprisoned: Her first transfer was a dunk. Months in the past, in pre-trial detention in Russia, Griner was provided a basketball and a hoop, however she declined to play, Colas stated.
“I believe it’s truthful to say that her choosing up a ball voluntarily and the very first thing being a dunk … it was actually encouraging,” Colas stated. “She was actually excited.”
Griner appears to be in good bodily well being, however whether or not she returns to the WNBA within the spring season shall be as much as her, in keeping with Colas.
“Is she going to be prepared? We’ll see,” Colas stated.
Griner arrived on the San Antonio medical facility for a routine analysis after her launch Thursday as a part of a prisoner trade between the US and Russia for infamous convicted arms seller Viktor Bout.
Considerations had grown that Griner was getting used as a political pawn amid Russia’s struggle on Ukraine after she was arrested on drug expenses in February at an airport in Russia, the place she performs basketball within the WNBA low season, then later sentenced to 9 years in jail.
Now, Griner’s focus shall be on recuperating, together with getting bodily and psychological assist from the federal government to assist along with her reintegration.
“She’s had a variety of psychological assist,” Colas stated. “The sources are very strong. It’s very supportive and really BG-centered. It’s about her creating company.”
That care is closely targeted on serving to previously captive individuals regain a way of management over their lives after prolonged detentions. Griner opted into the Division of Protection’s post-isolation program, which different wrongfully detained People, together with Trevor Reed, have participated in, Colas stated; Reed is former Marine launched in April after three years of wrongful detention in Russia.
It’s not clear how lengthy Griner and her spouse will keep in San Antonio, however the choice is hers, Colas stated.
However what’s turn out to be clear is that “regular” will all the time look completely different after the ordeal Griner went by means of. For safety causes, for example, the Griners have already begun the method of discovering a brand new house, Colas stated.
Although it stays unknown if followers will see Griner again on the basketball court docket in Could, one factor is definite, Colas stated: Griner is keen to make use of her energy and affect to assist others – particularly Paul Whelan, one other American nonetheless imprisoned in Russia.
“It was one of many first issues she requested me about,” Colas stated. “She’s very, very involved about that. And shall be sending a message to Paul.”
Whelan already despatched a message by means of US representatives who spoke with him in current days: “Please inform Brittney that Paul stated he’s completely happy she’s house,” he informed her, in keeping with Colas.
“She is completely desirous about the long run,” Colas stated. “She’s already speaking concerning the place that she’s now in to assist different individuals come house.”
Whelan – a US, Irish, British and Canadian citizen – is imprisoned in a Russian penal colony after he was arrested in December 2018 on espionage expenses, which he has denied. He was sentenced to 16 years in jail. He, like Griner, has been declared wrongfully detained by US officers.
The US tried to steer Russia to swap each Griner and Whelan for arms seller Bout, however Russian officers wouldn’t budge on the matter, with Russia saying each of the People’ instances had been dealt with otherwise primarily based on the fees every of them confronted.