“I’m head over heels happy!” Barack Obama joins Brittney Griner to celebrate release of Paul Whelan from Russian prison

Team USA star, Brittney Griner at the Paris Olympics 2024 joins Barack Obama to celebrate release of Paul Whelan from Russian prison.

“I’m head over heels happy!” Barack Obama joins Brittney Griner to celebrate release of Paul Whelan from Russian prison

Team USA star Brittney Griner at the Paris Olympics 2024 joins Barack Obama to celebrate release of Paul Whelan from Russian prison (image via Open Source/X)

WNBA superstar, Brittney Griner is reveling playing for Team USA at the Paris Olympics 2024. But this could have not happened had the United States not been able to secure her release from a Russian prison. At that time, the USA wanted another imprisoned citizen Paul Whelan released alongside Griner. However, that did not happen. Now, after 18 months, Griner and former President Barack Obama celebrate Whelan’s return.

The United States of America has been long trying to get former US Marine Paul Whelan back into the country. On Thursday night, he returned after spending more than five years in a Russian prison. On hearing this news after their game against Belgium, Griner was asked about her emotions. 

Great day. I'm head over heels happy for the families right now. Any day that Americans come home, that's a win. I'm sure it will be even more emotional a little later on. Yeah, I'm just happy. This was a big win. Huge win.
Brittney Griner after Team USA’s game against Belgium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjzUC7mIyv0

She was visibly ecstatic as reported by ABC News’ Emily Shapiro. Griner has lobbied the government to bring Whelan back ever since she returned.

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She was joined by Barack Obama in celebrating Whelan’s arrival along with three other prisoners. As such, Wall Street Journal reporter, Evan Gershkovich and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva also returned home. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greeted them at Joint Base Andrews near Washington D.C.

The negotiations involved to secure their release were not easy. They took the assistance of allies. This was labeled as one of the most difficult prisoner exchange programs the United States has done since the Cold War. Griner was also part of a prisoner exchange during her release.

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Brittney Griner’s time from prison to back home playing for her country

Brittney Griner made an honest mistake in February 2022, when she carried along two cartridges containing cannabis oil. It is illegal in Russia, therefore, authorities immediately arrested and imprisoned her. Considering that she was a high-profile arrest, the Russians decided to keep her behind bars. Even sentencing her to 9 years in prison.

As it was during the Russia-Ukraine war, she was held back and used as leverage against the sanctions the US had imposed. But eventually, in exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, she returned home on December 8th of the same year.

Now 19 months later, she is playing for Team USA at the Paris Olympics 2024. She is thankful and wants to make her country proud by winning the gold medal at the Olympics. A task that she and her teammates are on the way to achieving.

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