Washington County’s own Allisha Gray made history last year as part of the U.S.A. 3×3 Women’s Basketball team that won the inaugural gold medal in this sport during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
She also made history as the first Olympic Gold Medalist from Washington County, Georgia.
On Saturday, March 19 the Washington County community turned out to celebrate Allisha Gray, better known now as “Gold Medal Lish.”
The afternoon began with a parade for Gray, a 2013 graduate of Washington County High School. Friends, family, and supporters lined the streets to cheer for the hometown hero who, last year, gave a shout-out to her hometown of Sandersville/Washington County following the gold medal victory.
Once on the downtown square, Allisha Gray was presented with numerous proclamations, highlighting her accomplishments from her time in Washington County to her college years at the University of North Carolina and the University of South Carolina, all the way to her Women’s National Basketball Association career with the Dallas Wings, and most recently her gold medal win in Tokyo.
During the celebration, Sandersville Mayor Jimmy Andrews explained that he and the City Council proclaimed March 19, 2022, as Allisha Gray Day in the City of Sandersville. State Representative Mack Jackson, Washington County Commissioners, and the Washington County Board of Education also provided Gray with resolutions commemorating her success.
In addition, Washington County Lady Hawks Basketball Head Coach Sug Parker announced the retirement of Allisha Gray’s #15 high school jersey.
The festivities concluded with the official unveiling of the Allisha Gray mural located on the side of the Esquire Fashion building that can be seen along Highway 15 in downtown Sandersville. The mural was painted by students with the University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School of Art, Color the World Bright Program. More than 40 local sponsors contributed to make the mural possible.
“The Olympic experience was so incredible,” said Gray when addressing the crowds on Saturday afternoon. “Who could have imagined that a girl from a small town in Georgia would go to another country, Japan, and represent the United States of America in 3×3 basketball and bring home the gold medal.”
Gray explained that each game during the Olympics was a “hard fought battle.”
“We took it one game at a time, and we reached our goal, and I still cannot wrap my head around it,” said Gray. She added, “I was and still am filled with so much pride and purpose; it felt great putting on that red, white, and blue, and representing Sandersville and Washington County.”
To view the WACO 100 broadcast of the Allisha Gray Celebration, click HERE.
