Bryant Hailed as ‘True Olympic Champion’ by IOC President
IOC President Thomas Bach says Kobe Bryant was “an outstanding and true Olympic champion.” Bryant helped the United States win Olympic gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games. He also worked with the Olympic hosting bid for Los Angeles in the city where he won five NBA titles with the Lakers. Bach says Bryant “embraced the power of sport to change people’s lives." The 41-year-old Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles on Sunday. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was among the nine victims. Bach says “we will all miss his energy and his humble nature."