Thoughts of Rio Games gives Argentina's Gretter 'goosebumps'

BUENOS AIRES (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Melissa Gretter has already played an important role for Argentina in big competitions. She has played at FIBA Americas Women's Championships and a FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (WOQT).

She has experienced important wins and suffered through agonizing defeats. Only last year, Gretter and Argentina played in Canada and clinched third place finish at the FIBA Americas Women's Championship.

With that result, Argentina remained in the hunt for the Rio de Janeiro Games. And when the subject of the Olympics comes up, one sees in Gretter's reaction just how significant it would be for her and her compatriots to take part in the competition. It will happen Argentina are successful at the WOQT in Nantes, France, in June and claim one of the five places for the Brazil Games.

"It gives me goosebumps (just thinking about)," she said. "It would fulfill one of my biggest dreams."

Every athlete dreams of wearing the shirt of his or her team at an Olympic Games and if we did it, it would be something incredible. I can not imagine, or rather, yes, I imagine every day. - Gretter

Argentina will play in Group B with Cameroon and Turkey. With a top two finish, they would meet a team from Group A, which consists of Cuba, New Zealand and France, in a game with an Olympic berth at stake. A loss in that game would leave a team needing a couple of more wins.

"I think about the WOQT all the time, always," Gretter said. "It would be our greatest achievement and for that reason, we are working hard. Those players in Argentina are meeting and having weekly workouts and those of us abroad are still training hard with our clubs, but with a view to that tournament for one of the five places... We want to achieve something."

No matter what happens, this summer will be another opportunity for Gretter to do something that she treasures. She likes nothing more than to represent her country.

The national team is one of my greatest achievements on a personal level. Every time I hear the anthem in a tournament with that shirt on, I feel something I can not explain in words. - Gretter

"Basketball is my way of living," Gretter said. "Fortunately, I can make a living doing what I like to do. To share this with others on different occasions, with friends who gave me the sport, is incredible."

FIBA