"Cool story" - Victoria Azarenka all praise for Flavor Flav for sponsoring USA women's water polo team after learning about their financial struggles

Victoria Azarenka lavished praise on Flavor Flav for sponsoring the USA's women's water polo team after it was revealed that many players were doing side jobs to make ends meet. At the Paris Olympics 2024, they are placed in group B and are currently third with one win and one loss.

The women's water polo team has garnered huge success at the Olympics, winning three consecutive gold medals. They are eyeing a fourth straight gold medal, which would be historic as no men's or women's team has ever done so.

Flavor Flav's involvement with the women's water polo team began after Maggie Steffens, a team member, posted on Instagram about working two or three jobs to fulfill their dream of making it to the Olympics. The rapper replied to this post and assured the team of his unwavering support.

Victoria Azarenka lauded Flavor Flav's efforts in helping the three-time Olympic champions with financial assistance.

"What a cool story; but more importantly how incredible is the action to step in and help out," she wrote on her Instagram story.

Source- Victoria Azarenka's Instagram handle

---

Victoria Azarenka opted out of the Paris Olympics 2024

Victoria Azarenka at the Ecotrans Ladies Open Berlin 2024 (Source: Getty)

Victoria Azarenka did not participate in the ongoing Paris Olympics. Hailing from Belarus, she was invited to play as a neutral athlete as Belarus and Russia were barred from competing at the Olympics due to Russia's war over Ukraine (Belarus is Russia's ally). The former Australian Open champion initially accepted the invitation but later declined, according to Olympics.com.

The former World No. 1 is a two-time Olympic medalist, with gold and bronze medals. She won the gold medal while partnering with Max Mirnyi in mixed doubles at the 2012 London Olympics. The duo defeated Andy Murray and Laura Robson in the final.

At the same edition of the event, Azarenka won the bronze medal in singles. She defeated Irina-Camelia Begu, Maria Jose Martinez, Nadia Petrova, and Angelique Kerber on her way to the semifinals.

She lost to the eventual gold medalist Serena Williams in the semifinals. Competing in the bronze medal match against Maria Kirilenko, the Belarusian defeated her in straight sets to clinch the medal.

This year, in place of the Olympics, she has been competing at the 2024 Citi Open. She downed Hailey Baptiste in a close encounter and will now take on Wang Yafan in the second round.