Exclusive Interview With Olympian Gregory Echenique
8/5/2016 9:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
On the eve of his first game in the Olympics, Gregory Echenique answered our questions
Echenique's Venezuela team will play its first game on Saturday night at 8:30 pm Central. A complete list of the Olympic basketball schedule can be found at https://www.rio2016.com/en/basketball.
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Since graduating at Creighton, you've played for several teams in several continents. Tell us all where you've played in the past few years, and who your current team is.
Since I graduated Creighton I played in Germany with the MHP Riesen which is located in a city called Ludwigsburg. Then I went to a team in Belgium called Telenet Oostende for two seasons where I competed in the EuroCup. And after that I went back to Venezuela to Guaros de Lara where I currently play.
Venezuela Basketball has qualified for the Olympics for just the second time ever. What's the excitement level like as it approaches?
We are very excited to be here. And also to be a part of the best moment in the basketball history of our country. We also won two South American tournaments, which had never been done, so we are trying to use all that momentum for the upcoming games.
It sounds like there was quite the celebration after your team qualified for the Olympics last September. Do the fans in Venezuela treat you like celebrities? If yes, how so?
After that tournament I think basketball in Venezuela took a big step because we are more of a soccer country. You could see how the people were proud of what the team accomplished and now a lot more people support us and believe in what we are doing.
What part of the Olympics are you looking forward to most?
What I'm looking forward the most is the Opening Ceremony, which is today, I'm very curious of what it will be like being there since I always watch that on TV. There are some concerns among athletes because that ceremony takes a long time and most people start competition on Saturday (including ourselves) so they don't want to be tired.
Growing up, did you ever dream of playing in the Olympics?
I did I always thought it would be cool to be able to represent your country in the highest level there is. And to be here around the best athletes in the world. But it all seem so far-fetched that I guess now it hasn't really sunk in.
Does it mean any more to you to be representing your country while having the Summer Olympics in South America for the first time?
I think it would have been great no matter where because it is the Olympics. However, it's nice that it's in South America because it's shorter trip for our families. It still doesn't help us with language though, because they speak Portuguese here.Â
Your second game of the Olympics, on August 8th, will be against Team USA. What will it be like to go against the likes of DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan and so many other NBA superstars?
I think it will be great to go against them. You don't get to play agaisnt these guys all together every day. So even though it will be a tough match-up for myself and my teammates, we are excited and ready to go out and compete.
In some of the recent photos we've seen of you, it seems like you've gotten rid of the protective eyewear you wore while at Creighton. When and why did that change, and how is it different playing without them?
After my eye surgery I had to wear goggles for only two years, so after I finished my career at Creighton, I decided I wasn't going to use them anymore. Also, basketball for me got even more physical when I turned pro, and I kept getting cuts in the face for getting hit in the goggles.
What will your uniform number be in the Olympics?
Last year they changed the rules and I'm able to wear 0. Before you couldn't, as numbers went from 1 to 15 I believe.  Last year i was the first person ever to wear 0 in a FIBA competition so I thought that was cool
Do you have any health or safety concerns about going to Rio de Janeiro?
There is a big issue with the Zika virus, however in Venezuela it also exists and I have been playing there for the past two seasons so I'm not as worried anymore.
Do you still follow the Creighton team much? How do you think they've handled the move to the BIG EAST, a league you played in as a freshman at Rutgers?
Yes I do follow the team. When I was in Europe it was hard to watch some games because of time difference, but it was still exciting to me as an alum. When I was playing in Belgium we even did our brackets for the NCAA Tournament, so I had Creighton all the way!!. But I think it's done well for the school name to show they can compete at that level.
