Olympic Legends - Kirilenko the Olympic veteran

VILNIUS (Olympics) - Andrei Kirilenko is hoping to revisit past glories in Lithuania, where EuroBasket 2011 is being staged.

Winning the EuroBasket gold medal in 2007 in Madrid when he was named as the championship's MVP was the highlight of his career.

It also earned his team a trip to the Beijing Games.

Should Kirilenko and Russia reach the top of the podium again or at least make it to the Final, a place in next year's London Games would be assured and that means 30-year-old would be able to take part in this third Olympics.

When Kirilenko played at Sydney 2000, his career was just beginning to take off.

He had yet to go to the NBA's Utah Jazz and was only 19.

Yet he showed he was going to be a special player, averaging 9.4 points and more than two steals and a block per game.

In a game against the United States, Kirilenko didn't back down.

He even had an angry exchange of words with Vince Carter as the teams left the court at half-time.

Kirilenko ended up scoring 11 points in that contest and swatting two shots but the United States won.

Russia did not make it to the Athens Games but were in China in 2008.

Kirilenko averaged 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.2 blocks.

"I want to be in the Olympics," Kirilenko said to FIBA.com after helping Russia hammer Finland on Thursday in Vilnius for their sixth triumph in as many games at the EuroBasket.

"I have been in Sydney, in Beijing and I love it.

"It's a great achievement for any athlete.

"It's going to be a pleasure to be there but you have to earn it first."

Russia would compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament if they finish third, fourth, fifth or sixth at the EuroBasket in Lithuania.

FIBA