Ski great Brignone's first aim is to walk before thinking of next year's Olympics
MILAN — Italian skier Federica Brignone's first aim is to walk again before she begins to even think of competing in next year's home Olympics.
Brignone was discharged from the hospital only last Tuesday, five days after breaking multiple bones in her left leg and tearing her ACL in a giant slalom crash .
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More react during the Men's Group Phase - Group C match between Team South Sudan and Team Puerto Rico on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade Pierre Mauroy on July 28, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by) With the Olympics behind them and the 2025 AfroBasket on the horizon, South Sudan now finds itself in an unfamiliar position: the hunted, not the hunters. 'At the Olympics, people were cheering for us. They saw us as the Cinderella story,' Omot says. 'Now, they're coming for us. Everyone wants to beat the number one team in Africa.' It's a shift Omot doesn't take lightly. While the support in Paris was overwhelming, from fans, media, and even other athletes, the next phase of the journey demands even greater focus. 'We've got to stay grounded,' he says. 'Remember what got us here. The unity, the discipline, the work.' That humility is matched by a rising sense of responsibility. 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One of those moments came against his basketball idol, Kevin Durant. 'To go up against him and see that level up close, it confirmed everything I believed,' Omot says. 'There's a reason he's one of the greatest. Their names will live forever.' The takeaways weren't just about talent, they were mental. Omot knows the margin between winning and losing often comes down to mindset. 'Regardless, if you make mistakes, you can't ever let that deteriorate your mindset,' he shared. 'Stepping on the floor, no matter who you play, you should always feel like you are the best player.' That unshakable belief, the same one that carried South Sudan to the Olympics, will be central to their AfroBasket campaign. For Omot, it's not just about bringing talent to the floor; it's about bringing a championship mentality, shaped by the highest level of competition the game has to offer. PRETORIA, TSHWANE - JUNE 9: Anunwa Omot #5 of Armee Patriotique looks on during the game against the ... More Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club during the 2025 Basketball Africa League Playoffs on June 9, 2025 at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, Tshwane. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Regis Hirwa/NBAE via Getty Images) South Sudan's Olympic debut is part of a broader narrative: the ascent of African basketball. The continent has long been rich in talent but starved for opportunity. That's starting to change. 'There's so much talent here,' Omot says. 'People are starting to notice. It's not just about the NBA anymore. We've got guys playing in Europe, the G-League, Asia, and of course, the BAL.' Omot has played in all of those places, but it's his recent return to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) with APR of Rwanda that speaks volumes about where his heart is. 'People ask me why I came back to the BAL. I tell them: because I care about this place. This is home. I want to grow the game here.' It's not just patriotism, it's a long-term view of impact. 'Whether it's Rwanda, Kenya, or South Sudan, it's all Africa to me. And if I can help the game grow, if I can show kids that you don't have to leave the continent to be successful, that matters.' Having already won a BAL title, Omot knows what it takes to build a championship team. At APR, he's been brought in not just for scoring and size, but for experience and leadership. 'I joined APR because they were honest with me,' he says. 'They told me how I could fit in and what they needed. I didn't want to step on anybody's toes. I wanted to add value.' APR headed into the BAL playoffs with momentum and ambition, and will compete for a podium finish come Friday. Omot has made an immediate impact, averaging 19.3 points, 2.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. 'Defense wins,' he says without hesitation. 'Everyone talks about scoring, but it's stops that win games. The teams that limit mistakes and control the boards, those are the teams that win.' For Omot, the road ahead is as much about impact as it is about accolades. Beyond preparing for AfroBasket, he's thinking generationally, about what it means to give back, to create pathways, to change lives. 'There's just so much untapped talent here in Africa. One day, I hope I can do something, maybe be that scout, because I see what's possible.' It's no longer just about South Sudan being seen; it's about Africa being believed in. For Omot, that belief is the foundation of legacy. And if Paris was South Sudan's grand introduction to the world, then this next chapter is about building something that lasts, on the court, across the continent, and far beyond the final buzzer.
