BEIJING — It was her final Olympic game, a moment that was 12 years in making, and Lisa Leslie wanted the rest of the world to know it.
She packed her previous three gold medals, fully intending to go home with a fourth. So if that meant getting physical with a longtime nemesis, Lauren Jackson of Australia, or diving to the ground for a loose ball with her team leading by 17, then so be it.
“I’m exhausted,” Leslie said after the Americans defeated Australia, 92-57, at Wukesong Indoor Arena on Saturday. “It’s been hard-fought to get all of these medals; to come out and play against Australia is kind of like how the story had to go.”
Leslie became the first basketball player to win four consecutive gold medals as the United States defeated Australia 92-65 in the final for a third straight Olympics.
After receiving her Beijing medal on the podium, Leslie pulled from under her warmup jacket medals from Atlanta, Sydney and Athens. She then proudly belted out a spirited rendition of the national anthem, rocking with joy — the sound of her clanking medals competing with the sound.
“I had never seen them before; I was just looking at them in the locker room like ‘Wow!’ — to know that’s (12) years of dedication to USA Basketball,” Candace Parker, Leslie’s teammate with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, said after matching Leslie with 14 points. “That’s the reason why we are a dynasty because of someone like her, who continues to give back.”
Teresa Edwards also has won four gold medals, but not in succession.
Leslie fouled out with less than seven minutes remaining, anxiously watching from the bench and laughing hysterically when first-time Olympian Kara Lawson (team-high 15 points) hit a ridiculous runner in the lane late and hooted. She smiled and raised her arms as Parker fumbled a dunk attempt as time expired.
Realizing her Olympic career was over and understanding her legacy to the game, Leslie grabbed Parker and hugged her. Backup center Sylvia Fowles later walked over, and all three embraced — the mentor handing the future over to her much younger, 22-year-old pupils.
Leslie didn’t have her running mates from the previous three Olympics, with Sheryl Swoopes injured and Dawn Staley serving as a Team USA assistant coach. But she managed to finish her Olympic career at 32-0 on a deep and talented team that never let up — playing hard on both ends of the floor.
“It’s starting to get real sick right now,” Leslie, 36, said with a laugh. “They all tell the story about how they were little, and how they use to watch me growing up, and how they wanted to be like me and they met me at a camp and got my autograph.
“I don’t look old, but I’m feeling it. The more I hear their stories. I wish them the best of luck, but they got a chance to get their first one with me, like I did with Teresa (Edwards) and Katrina (McClain). I showed them the way in some ways. I’m handing over to them. Sylvia is prepared, Candace is prepared even more because she’s my teammate in LA. They have to keep it going.”
Asked if she would consider coming back for a fifth gold medal, Leslie said, “Absolutely not.” She plans to focus on raising her 13-month-old daughter, Lauren Jolie.
Fowles, the 6-foot-5 rookie center with the Chicago Sky, scored 13 points and finished as the team’s leading scorer through the tournament (13.4). Leslie “was telling me that I got better ever since we been together and she loved the way that I worked,” Fowles said. “She handed it off, and I don’t have no choice but to take it and run with it.”
Aside from going home with four medals, Leslie said she also wanted the U.S. to dominate the field in the Olympics — especially after the team lost to Russia in the semifinals of the 2006 world championships, which she was unable to attend because her uncle was injured in a car accident. The Americans beat their eight opponents by an average of 38.6 points, with Russia being the only team to stay within 15 points of them during the semifinals.
“All this talk about all these people catching us, we kind of wanted to squash all that,” guard Diana Taurasi said.
Taurasi, who won her second gold medal at age 26, was then asked if she would try to match Leslie.
“Yeah, if I’m alive and I’m still kicking, I’d go for four — why not?” she said. “To see Lisa with it, that’s an inspiration. I guess if there is someone to carry out the flag in the closing ceremony it would be her.”
Taurasi was then informed that archer Khatuna Lorig will serve that role.
“An archer?” Taurasi asked in shock. “Does she have four gold medals? Is there a write-in? I’m going to send the USOC a write-in.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
