KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It's been 40 years since Pat Summitt achieved one of her greatest accomplishments.
That was when she led Team USA women's basketball to an Olympic gold medal in 1984. The team won all five of its games, winning every game by more than 30 points.
Kim Mulkey, who is now the head coach of LSU women's basketball, was a player on that Olympic team.
"We were so good," Mulkey said. "That 1984 Olympic team was special."
She was selected, but then afraid she would be replaced. Four weeks before the Olympics she had a stress fracture in her foot. However, what happened next makes her feel forever indebted to Summitt.
Instead of replacing her, Summitt called her into her room, told her not to worry and told her that her foot would heal in time for her to be able to contribute to Team USA.
Mulkey came off the bench and helped the team win the gold. She had the ball in her hands as the team won it all. She admires Summitt as a coach.
"She was special. Pat could just relate to players. She challenged you," Mulkey said.
As a player at Louisiana Tech, Mulkey never lost to Tennessee led by Summitt. She turned that into a joking remark to Summitt during the 1984 run over something the head coach was a stickler for.
"She wanted us to weigh what she thought all of us should weigh," Mulkey said. "We had a funny conversation, but a respectful conversation. I said, 'Coach, what difference does it make what I weigh?' I said, 'You're 0-4 against my Louisiana Tech teams.' Then I said, 'But I'll do what you ask.' She laughed about it. She told me she was going to keep coaching until she finally started dominating Louisiana Tech."
After the Olympics, Mulkey began her coaching career. She said she valued the personal conversations she had with Summitt. The two talked about pregnancy while coaching and also divorce.
"She is such a role model and there will never be another one like her," Mulkey said.