(Reuters) -U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner, who on Friday left an Army medical heart the place she had been recuperating following her launch from a Russian penal colony as a part of a prisoner swap, stated she would work to assist convey different detained Americans residence and deliberate to renew her WNBA profession.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star, left the Brooke Army Medical Center per week after she arrived at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, CNN reported.

“The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going,” she stated in her first public assertion since returning to the United States.

“President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home too,” she stated, referring to the previous U.S. Marine nonetheless being held in Russia. “I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you.”

Griner arrived on the medical heart final Friday after U.S. officers secured her freedom from Russia in change for Russian arms vendor Viktor Bout.

Griner, 32, was arrested on Feb. 17 at an airport outdoors Moscow for carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her baggage.

She was subsequently convicted of drug smuggling and later transferred to one among Russia’s most infamous penal colonies, the place former inmates have described torture, harsh beatings and slave labor situations.

Griner stated she plans to return to her WNBA staff.

“I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon,” she stated.

‘BRING ALL AMERICANS HOME’

Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden introduced the discharge final week from the Roosevelt Room of the White House, with Griner’s spouse, Cherelle, standing by.

“She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in Russia,” Biden stated on the time, prompting cheers from the sports activities world and lots of others however sharp criticism from some Republicans.

Former President Donald Trump, who was within the White House when Whelan was detained in late 2018, however derided the change with out the ex-Marine, calling it “a ‘stupid’ and unpatriotic embarrassment.”

House of Representatives Republican chief Kevin McCarthy referred to as the deal “a gift to Vladimir Putin.”

U.S. officers pressed for the discharge of each Griner and Whelan, who’s being held on what Washington referred to as “sham” espionage costs, a Biden administration official stated.

The official stated that Moscow, nevertheless, insisted on treating Whelan’s case in a different way, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling the Griner swap a “one or none” deal.

Griner, who posted a photograph of herself stepping off a airplane to her Instagram account on Friday, stated she deliberate to spend the vacations together with her household and referred to as on her supporters to advocate for different Americans held overseas.

“(I) encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home,” stated Griner. “Every family deserves to be whole.”

(Reporting by Brendan O’Brien in Chicago and Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Frank McGurty and Bill Berkrot)