Kobe Bryant's extraordinary legacy on full display at 2024 Summer Olympics

Kobe Bryant spent 20 seasons redefining what many understood about the limits of competition and determination. The Los Angeles Lakers legend became the epitome of what many sports fans thought of when discussing the resolve that separates champions from contenders.

Eight years after Bryant retired, a 22-year-old star at the Olympics is citing him as her influence after overcoming the odds to lead Team USA to a gutsy win in the Bronze Medal Game.

Bryant's fame and popularity were sustained throughout his life and career, with two words coming to define his legacy: Mamba Mentality. It was the title of his autobiographical book and encouraged everyone to be their best, no matter what they had to overcome.

After helping Team USA capture the bronze medal in women's 3-on-3 basketball, standout performer Hailey Van Lith spoke candidly about how Bryant influenced her and her own Mamba Mentality.

For those who can't see the post on X, Van Lith said the following:

""I think Kobe would be proud as heck of me for not letting us lose that last game. Sometimes you can't control the outcomes like that last game. I'm not gonna lie, it was tough. It was a tough situation for us to win it and we just didn't sulk in it. That's the Kobe mentality. It's like, 'F it,' go out and win the next game."

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Van Lith, 22, was born five years after Bryant was drafted, yet is still one of the countless athletes to cite him as a direct influence.

Kobe Bryant, Mamba Mentality influenced Team USA's bronze medal win

Bryant retired in 2016, 20 years after the Lakers acquired him on the night of the 1996 NBA Draft and forever changed the course of sports history. He entered retirement with five championships, an MVP award, and two scoring title, among a slew of other accolades.

That includes two Finals MVP awards, 15 All-NBA honors, 11 All-NBA First Team appearances, and 12 All-Defense selections—as well as an especially relevant two Olympic gold medals.

Bryant was one of the most popular athletes on the planet throughout his life and career. In addition to producing an endless list of memories on the court, he became something of a poster child for the extent to which an athlete is willing to go in the pursuit of their dreams.

That included the extreme of playing through injuries and the heralded work ethic that countless peers have told stories about over the years.

Van Lith was born after Bryant won his first NBA championship, which epitomizes how far his reach truly is. He's a cultural icon as much as a basketball player, with the unique ability to inspire people to be the best that they're capable of being.

Van Lith put that on display at the Olympics by helping Team USA overcome an 0-3 start to the event and win five consecutive games en route to the bronze medal.

Van Lith, a two-time All-ACC honoree, scored six points during the Americans' 16-13 win over Canada in the bronze medal game. That includes several key shots that epitomized the Mamba Mentality that drove a team that could've given up after failing to capture the gold, but instead pushed forward.

It may never feel real that Bryant is gone, but the fact that he's still inspiring generations that only spent so much time watching him play is a remarkable testament to his immeasurable legacy.