Two standout basketball stars from the Circle City took their skills on the road to Rio in search of gold in the Olympics, and each found success on the court. Tamika Catchings, from the Indiana Fever, and Paul George, from the Indiana Pacers, will both return to Indianapolis with gold medals.
Catchings joined an elite group of basketball players to win four Olympic gold medals with Team USA’s win against Spain 101–72.
Catchings’ Team USA teammates Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, along with Lisa Leslie, are the only four-time gold medalists in the history of Olympic basketball.
“Not many people have an opportunity to play in the Olympics, one, let alone two, three and four (times),” Catchings told USA Basketball after the gold medal game. “To be among that group, select individuals that have represented the game so well on and off the court, and to be one of those, I’m blessed for all the opportunities I’ve had and all the lives that I’ve been able to impact by using the platform of basketball.”
Catchings pulled down two rebounds in seven minutes during the final game of her Olympic career, the Associated Press reported.
“It’s been quite the journey — (I) shed some tears earlier,” she said. “This is just an amazing group of ladies. I had such a good time, getting to know them and playing with them, to the practices to the games. It’s just been fun.”
On the men’s Olympic basketball team, George and team clinched the top spot just two years after the player’s gruesome leg injury, sustained during a televised Team USA exhibition scrimmage.
On the court in Rio, Team USA secured its gold medal in a 96–66 win over Serbia.
George told the Associated Press the injury was on his mind as the team took the floor.
“Me and Coach (Mike Krzyzewski) actually had a moment before this game,” George said. “He was one of the first people to visit me in the hospital. He just told me, this is what I’ve been texting you about all season. This is what I’ve been telling you when you were in the hospital bed. This day is going to come. And here it is. Gold medalists.”
George went on to tell the AP just how significant his Rio performance was.
“This is where the incident happened,” George said. “With this group and with Team USA. It meant everything. Again, to just finalize this whole story. Put it to rest. I know I’m officially back. …
“It’s closing this chapter,” he added. “This is the ending piece to the whole rehab story.”
