Vanessa and Kobe Bryant, with daughters Natalia and Gianna
Jean Catuffe/Pacific Coast News
The Bryant family is getting into the Olympic spirit!
Kobe, wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia and Gianna cheered on Michael Phelps in the final swimming race of the London Olympics on Saturday.
“My girls and I have definitely been very blessed to be able to see history in the making,” Vanessa, 30, tells PEOPLE.
Kobe, 33, Vanessa, Natalia, 9, and Gianna, 6, were all dressed in their Olympic best, wearing Team USA gear as they cheered on the swimmers.
“Apart from Kobe’s games, we’ve watched Michael Phelps swim four times and were able to see him win a gold medal three times. We watched Roger Federer win his game [against] Juan Martin del Potro, Serena Williams, Usain Bolt win the 100M race and Gabby Douglas on the uneven bars,” she says.
Vanessa hopes to catch more events as the Olympic Games press on.
“I really wanted my family to watch Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings in what would hopefully be their gold medal beach volleyball match but it conflicts with Kobe’s quarter-final game. Hopefully we will be able to see their semi-final match,” she says. “I love taking my girls to support female athletes.”
But London has been about more than just attending Olympic events.
The girls have squeezed some fun into their packed schedules while dad Kobe prepares to compete for the gold.
“[We’ve] been enjoying the Olympics in London but my girls have also enjoyed exploring the Toy Kingdom and eating ice cream at Harrods in between events. Hopefully this trip will be topped off with a gold medal for USA Basketball!” she says.
It was a pleasant scene for a family that’s gone through tough times lately, as Vanessa filed for divorce last December after 10 years of marriage.
The couple agreed on terms for a divorce, but it was never finalized, and they were spotted kissing on Valentine’s Day.
Despite reports that Vanessa was furious over Kobe being photographed recently talking to two women in a nightclub, a source close to her says she was just upset that the basketball player allowed himself to be in a situation that could create unnecessary drama.
“They’ve been trying to work on their relationship,” says the source, adding that Vanessa has never said Kobe cheated on her with multiple women. “They are truly best friends and she would be there to support him whether they were married or not.”
• Reporting by JULIE JORDAN
