Jacki Gemelos, the epitome of resilience

Photo: fiba.com

"Jacki Gemelos is the epitome of resilience. Widely regarded as the top recruit in the nation in high school, Gemelos has overcome a number of knee injuries throughout her college career at USC to go on to be drafted in the third round of the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx.

Despite her injuries, sustaining 5 ACL tears in 6 years, Gemelos remained one of the most skilled players in the game, won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2011 World University Games and is a former National Player of the Year and McDonald’s All-American.

Jacki continues to play overseas and will be playing in Greece for the 2019-2020 season"

That's the Jacki Gemelos bio you can read when you enter on her website www.jackigemelos.com. Jacki is one of the most inspiring basketball players that I know. I had listened before about her, but I could know better her story when she joined Perfumerías Avenida, a Spanish team,  in 2015. She was part of the Chicago Sky's training camp and I remember I started to check every day the WNBA news praying she was not cut because I felt she deserved her opportunity after so many struggles. That's how I became a true fan of her. 

I can say now, a few years later, that was the very first (and only) time I've cried because a player did not make the final roster. She was the final cut. I knew that could happen, but I wished so much that didn't happen that honestly, did not see it coming. The good news is that a few weeks later the American-Hungarian player Allie Quigley left the team temporary to play the Eurobasket with Hungary and finally, Jacki Gemelos was signed!!. Everything was so special: Her debut, her 1st basketball... I knew that summer that she was going to be an important player for me forever. Was an amazing experience to follow her WNBA experience. Watching the games, following her social media... So yes, when she arrived at Perfumerías Avenida at the Spanish League after WNBA season she was my favourite player. Not only on the court but also she became a hero and a role model for me off the court. Does not matter where she plays (after her season in Spain she's been in Italy and Greece) I'm gonna always support her.

A few days ago I decided to purchase a couple of bracelets on her website. You can find some lovely merchandising there with lots of positive messages. My favourite is "Perseverance" because reminds me every day my own battle with my mental health issues and helps me to go ahead and don't give up, just as Jacki did to make her dreams come true.

I have not written anything for a while. Among other things, because some days it is just too hard something as simple as getting out of bed so I just don't have the energy enough to sit on my desk and writing or post on social media about the games, etc. But I'm starting to do a bit better and means a lot to me to write this post and share it with all my readers and people who are with me every day included my sports idols, as Jacki.