I have a friend in the USA handball team. She was a D1 college basketball player, multi Boston Marathon qualifier, and a crazy good triathlete.

 

She was recruited by USA handball.

 

I am shocked the USA Women cannot qualify. It is a combo of soccer, basketball, hockey and USA women are dominant in all those sports.

I have a friend in the USA handball team. She was a D1 college basketball player, multi Boston Marathon qualifier, and a crazy good triathlete.

 

She was recruited by USA handball.

 

That seems odd, when you consider the nature of most of the high-profile Olympic sports, where top athletes are ID'd at a very young age (think gymnastics or swimming). That tells me it's not a serious sport and probably doesn't need to be an Olympic sport.

 

Did the whole team come together in similar fashion to how your friend was recruited? Again, seems odd.

How does one find their way to be an Olympian in certain, less-obvious, "fringe sports?"

 

How does one come to realize they're among the best in the world at handball or water polo? Where are there youth leagues to develop these athletes?

Was having this same convo earlier with a friend of mine. Do they relocate full time to training facilities?

Was having this same convo earlier with a friend of mine. Do they relocate full time to training facilities?

 

Not to shade on FKYW's buddy, but doesn't it cheapen those fringe sports when it's something that any great athlete in any other sport can come in and do, and be the best in the world?

 

Like, say, if an NFL RB decided on a lark to go out for rugby one Olympics? Or if somebody left off the women's soccer team decided to do handball? Just doesn't seem right.

Kayaking. Whitewater kayaking is pretty intense, I could watch it all day long.