Published 6 hours ago • loading... • Updated 6 hours ago

These women are training to represent the US in an Olympic sport they'd never heard of

Following a viral TikTok video, more than 150 women attended USA Handball tryouts in January, a five-fold increase from previous turnouts. Rylee White, a 27-year-old screenwriter, was among those who moved to Florida to join the national residency program.
Head coach Sarah Gascon aims to rebuild the program in the United States after years of decline. While handball is popular in Europe, it remains little known domestically, making athlete recruitment a critical challenge.
Devyn Holbrook, a 30-year-old self-proclaimed 'queen of side quests,' quickly became obsessed with handball after trying out. Many participants are former Division One athletes viewing this residency as a rare chance to compete at the Olympic Games.
USA Handball faces critical resource challenges as the only national governing body receiving no support from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Staff members are volunteers, and athletes must work full-time while training.
Athletes hope to secure a spot on the roster for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. While dozens are currently training in the residency, only about 14 to 18 players will eventually represent the United States.

Insights by Ground AI