Katie Lou Samuelson breaks silence on Olympic disappointment

Team USA’s Katie Lou Samuelson reveals the disappointment, heartbreak and mental health struggles she suffered in the aftermath of being forced to skip the Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19. Samuelson’s 3x3 teammates went on to make history, winning the gold medal in Tokyo.

Video Transcript

- She's a busy day. Kelsey Plum sets up the score that will see the United States to the first ever Olympic games, with 3x3.

- That was the moment the United States punched its ticket to Tokyo in women's 3x3 hoops. And for Katie Lou Samuelson, that moment was years in the making. Long before she ever laced them up in college or the WNBA, Katie Lou was traveling the globe, playing 3x3 for Team USA.

She won multiple FIBA world championships as a teenager. So when the IOC decided to add 3x3 as an Olympic sport at the 2020 games, Katie Lou seemed destined for Tokyo. The fearsome four was ready to ball out, until--

- It's just days before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, and a growing number of athletes and officials have tested COVID positive.

- Despite being fully vaccinated, Katie Lou had tested positive for COVID-19. And just like that, the Olympics slipped from her grasp. Katie Lou's nightmare quickly became Jackie Young's dream come true, as the Las Vegas Aces guard got the call that she got next.

As the US women were dominating day after day in Tokyo, Katie Lou was back home dealing with mild COVID symptoms, anger, and heartbreak. Her teammates went on to win a gold medal, thanks in large part to the foundation Katie Lou helped build, brick by brick. While she didn't get gold in Tokyo, Katie Lou stayed strong and refused to be defeated by adversity, which these days, is a win in and of itself.