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Jailed WNBA Star Brittney Griner Appeals To Biden: ‘Get Me Home’
Basketball star Brittney Griner calls on US president to do all he can to secure her release from Russian jail.
US basketball star Brittney Griner has appealed to President Joe Biden to do all he can to secure her release from jail in Russia, saying in a letter that she is “terrified” she might remain imprisoned forever.
Representatives for Griner, a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) all-star and two-time Olympic gold medallist, released excerpts of the letter on Monday, the same day her agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas said it was delivered to the White House.
“As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” Griner said in the hand-written note.
“On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran,” she added, referring to Independence Day in the United States.
“It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”
Griner was arrested at the airport in the Russian capital in mid-February on charges of carrying vape cartridges that contained cannabis oil in her luggage.
Her incarceration came at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the US over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Biden administration has said she is being “wrongfully detained”.
Griner’s trial began in Moscow on July 1. Two witnesses were questioned by the prosecution: an airport customs official, who spoke in open court, and an unidentified witness in a closed session, according to the state news agency RIA-Novosti.
The trial was then adjourned, it said, when two other witnesses did not show up, and the next session was set for July 7.
US Charge d’Affaires Elizabeth Rood told reporters at the trial that Griner told her she was “keeping the faith” and that she was doing “as well as can be expected”.
The Biden administration has previously said it is working to bring Griner and another American, Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, home from Russia, and that their cases remain priorities.
In Monday’s letter, Griner urged Biden to use his powers to ensure her return.
“Please do all you can to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore,” she said.
“I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”
It’s pretty tough enjoying a day meant to celebrate independence when one of our own citizens, Brittney Griner, is STILL wrongfully detained in Russia.#WeAreBG
— WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) July 4, 2022
Griner’s imprisonment has drawn calls for action from top US athletes, including her WNBA teammates, who met with US State Department officials in mid-June to push for her release.
“We’re here to do whatever we can to amplify and keep BG at the forefront, which is more important than any basketball game and anything else that’s going on in our lives,” Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi said in a statement released by the team at that time.
The WNBA Players Association also called for action on Monday, saying on Twitter: “It’s pretty tough enjoying a day meant to celebrate independence when one of our own citizens, Brittney Griner, is STILL wrongfully detained in Russia.”
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Fitness meets cultural expression as GOOD SWEAT prepares to bring its CULTURE RUN experience to Lagos on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Designed around the connection between physical wellness and cultural identity, CULTURE RUN offers participants an opportunity to embrace an active lifestyle while celebrating the richness of African culture. The event brings together fitness enthusiasts, culture lovers, and individuals looking for a refreshing way to connect through movement and shared experiences.
The run is scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM, setting the stage for an evening that extends beyond fitness. At 6:00 PM, participants can look forward to the CULTURE PARTY, the event’s post-run celebration.
Adding to the experience is a distinctive dress code that encourages attendees to wear their regular running kits with a touch of cultural wear. This creative blend of athletic apparel and traditional-inspired fashion gives participants an opportunity to express their individuality while celebrating their cultural roots.
The event will take place at Bistrot Samantha’s, located at 7/12 Rumen’s Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
With its combination of fitness, fashion, culture, and social interaction, CULTURE RUN aims to create an experience that extends beyond the running track, bringing people together through a shared appreciation for wellness and cultural expression.
As Lagos continues to embrace lifestyle experiences that combine fitness with social engagement, CULTURE RUN offers an opportunity for participants to stay active, celebrate their heritage, and connect with like-minded individuals in a vibrant setting.
EVENT DETAILS
Event: CULTURE RUN
Presented by: GOOD SWEAT
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Run Time: 4:30 PM
Post-Run Party: 6:00 PM
Dress Code: Running kit with a touch of cultural wear
Venue: Bistrot Samantha’s
Address: 7/12 Rumen’s Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria
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