Paris 2024 Olympics: Fairytale finale for Nikola Karabatic, the golden boy of French handball?
Published 16/07/2024 at 13:43 GMT
French handball legend Nikola Karabatic has won all there is to win. With three Olympic gold medals, four world and four European Championships already to his name, his status among the pantheon of greats was long secured. At the age of 40, the curtain has almost fallen on his illustrious career, but one last dance - and another shot at sporting immortality – on home soil awaits at Paris 2024...
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Nikola Karabatic may have never expected to play at the Olympics at the age of 40, but the French handball legend is ready to seize his last dance on the biggest stage with both hands.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, the 40-year-old has the opportunity to further cement his legacy at Paris 2024.
Karabatic will become the first handball player to compete at six Olympic Games and can win an unprecedented fourth gold medal should he help France follow-up their triumphs in 2008, 2012 and 2020.
A fourth Olympic gold would provide poetic symmetry at the conclusion of a career which has spanned three decades and seen Karabatic win four world and European Championship titles with France.
“It's incredible to see that I'm still here — I became European champion at the age of 39,” Karabatic told EHF. “I'm so happy, but I also worked so hard for it.
“You have the dream of the Olympics at home, as that only happens once every 100 years, and I thought: The Olympics will come to Paris when I turn 40. That's too late.
“Now I feel lucky to be fighting for a place in the squad. There is no greater highlight than the Olympics at home.”
Nikola Karabatic brought the curtain down on his club career with PSG by lifting the French handball title in May
Image credit: Getty Images
The prospect of a fairytale finale on home soil comes after Karabatic brought the curtain down on his trophy-laden club career with Paris Saint-Germain in May by lifting the French title in front of 15,000 fans.
After 22 years representing France, it should come as no surprise that Karabatic struggles to single out one memory, but the 2017 World Championship triumph on home soil has left him relishing this final farewell with French fans.
Karabatic has made over 350 appearances for France over 22 years
Image credit: Getty Images
“I have played far too many tournaments [to pick a favourite], but when we played the World Championship in France in 2017 and became world champions, that was something different,” he said.
“It was the only time in 22 years that I played a major tournament at home. The feeling was just huge — the whole of France was crossing their fingers, the media interest was so big, the energy was amazing.
“That's why I'm looking forward to the Olympic Games at home, because in 2017, I felt how beautiful and how great it is to play and win at home.”
WHEN ARE THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES?
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
However, the Games technically start on July 24 with preliminaries in football and rugby 7s, with the official curtain-raiser at the Opening Ceremony two days later.
WHEN DOES THE MEN'S HANDBALL START?
The men’s handball tournament at Paris 2024 will take place from July 27 to August 11, with the preliminary round games taking place at the South Paris Arena 6 and the final games at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille.
HOW TO WATCH THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES?
The Olympic Games will return with Paris 2024, live on Eurosport and discovery+.
Discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
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