"As the final buzzer sounded at the packed arena in Kaunas, Lithuania, Andrei Kirilenko looked up to the heavens around mid-court and threw the ball with all his might straight up in the air.

Thanks to Kirilenko, the Russia National Team beat F.Y.R. of Macedonia, 72-68, and won the bronze medal at the 2011 European Championship — or EuroBasket as it is more commonly known — in front of 11,000 fans last Sunday afternoon.

Next stop for Russia: the 2012 London Olympics.

"I've been in two Olympic (2000, 2008) games and I'm looking forward to a third. I think it's the highest achievement for any athlete," said Kirilenko, who watched as Spain beat France for the gold medal on Sunday as well. "