Paris Gold Medalist Named Youth Olympics Role Model

A Paris Olympics champion is trading her medal for a mentorship role that could shape the future of basketball.

Sonja Greinacher, who helped Germany win gold in 3x3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has been named an official Role Model for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. She'll guide and inspire teenage athletes competing in Senegal's capital city.

The 3x3 basketball format made its Olympic debut just a few years ago, and Greinacher quickly became one of its brightest stars. Her gold medal performance in Paris showed the world what dedication and teamwork can achieve on basketball's smallest stage.

Now she's passing that wisdom forward. Role Models at Youth Olympic Games do more than watch from the sidelines. They mentor young competitors, share their journey through setbacks and triumphs, and help teenagers navigate the pressures of international competition.

Why This Inspires

Greinacher's appointment sends a powerful message to young athletes, especially girls in basketball. Seeing a recent gold medalist invest time in the next generation proves that success isn't just about winning. It's about lifting others as you climb.

The choice of Dakar adds extra significance. Senegal has a rich basketball tradition, and hosting the Youth Olympics gives African athletes a home court advantage while inspiring a new generation across the continent.

Greinacher won't just talk about excellence. She'll embody it, showing teenagers that Olympic champions are real people who faced the same doubts and challenges they're experiencing now.

Champions are made long before they step onto the podium, and Greinacher is helping write those origin stories in Dakar.