Paris 2024: Goalball’s unpredictability promises thrills galore
Brazil and Turkey took the gold medals in Tokyo 2020 but face strong competition in Paris 28 Aug 2024
Goalball will be among the most difficult sports to predict at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with a host of nations expected to be in contention for medals.
Goalball is one of the Paralympics’ most fascinating events - without an able-bodied equivalent, it is a unique three-a-side sport for athletes with visual impairment, who attempt to throw a ball into the opponent’s goal.
The sport has been a part of the Paralympics since 1972, when it was a demonstration sport; by 1976 medals were awarded in the men’s event, and in 1984 women’s goalball was added to the roster.
Unlike many Para sports that are dominated by a number of nations, goalball has had a remarkable number of different medallists over the years. Seventeen different countries have made it onto a Paralympic podium, and 13 different nations have secured a gold medal.
This unpredictability contributes to the excitement of the sport, although there are some traditionally strong countries. USA, Finland and Denmark are the three nations to have won three golds; Canada, Germany and Turkey have taken two each.
Turkey are currently the leading women’s team, having won gold at both Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016. The men’s field is more wide open, although Brazil are the current holders and perhaps favourites again.
Eight nations of each gender will take part at Paris 2024 – a reduction from 10 at previous editions. France, Brazil, China, Japan, Iran, USA, Ukraine and Egypt line up for the men; the women’s field is France, South Korea, Turkey, China, Brazil, Japan, Israel and Canada.
The action takes place at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, an indoor handball arena with a capacity of 4,200.
Five stories to follow…
Three in a row for the Turkish titans?
Turkey vanquished USA in the Tokyo 2020 final, and China in the Rio 2016 showpiece – they arrive in France seeking an historic three-peat.
The prolific Sevda Altunoluk and her sister Sevtap have been a key part of the side, and Sevda is delighted to have her younger sibling on the court with her. “Playing with her makes me happy,” Sevda said. “We train together and we get along very well. We both have a competitive spirit and we motivate each other by giving speeches. We don’t have any problems during a match.”
Many have earmarked Sevda to star in France, and become a true legend of the sport. Back in 2022 at the World Championships, she scored 57 times as
Turkey took the gold medal.
More Moreno magic?
Leomon Moreno has been central to Brazil’s recent success in men’s goalball. He starred as they won the 2014 and 2018 World Championships, and topped even that with a bronze on their home court at Rio 2016, followed by gold at Tokyo 2020.
Moreno is often his country’s top scorer, and his cool, calm approach to the game will be crucial if the Brazilians are to retain their title. He’s a great ambassador for goalball, too. “It is a very exciting sport where the chances of goals can happen at any minute, so there is tension at every moment,” he said.
Dynamic Dennis
Amanda Dennis (USA) is one of the most talented players in the game - she can throw with either hand, making her shots difficult to deal with, and is a master shot-stopper too. She was a key part of the USA’s return to the Paralympic podium at Rio 2016, blocking an incredible 40 shots from Brazil in the women’s bronze medal match.
As team captain, she was also the USA’s top scorer at the 2018 World Championships. She came agonisingly close to gold at Tokyo 2020 - the USA lost the final to Turkey, but Dennis is now looking for third time lucky.
“One of the things I love most about goalball is that everyone is on an even playing field,” she said. “There’s always something new to learn in the sport and new to work on. Para sport has changed my life.”
Germany resurgent
Germany’s men have a strong goalball history, but in the last decade have suffered a dip - they couldn’t even break the top ten at the 2010 and 2014 World Championships. However, following a period of rebuilding, they cross the border to France as one of the competition’s favourites for gold.
“We reached a point where teams know that they need to score three, four, five goals against Germany and they say ‘it needs to be enough to beat them because we probably won’t score a lot more,’” said star player Michael Dennis.
“But finally when you are talking about winning a gold medal, you need to win seven matches. It doesn’t matter who you are playing. It’s a once in a lifetime chance to win a gold medal.”
Israeli couple breaking barriers
Israel compete in the women’s event, and all eyes are likely to be on Ilham Mahamid Rozin, the goalball team captain and a pioneer for women in the sport in her country.
Rozin, a Muslim, is married to Michael Rozin, the Jewish captain of the men’s goalball team. “We fell in love at first sight,” she said. “Even though we didn’t speak the same language, we tried to communicate. It gave me the urge to learn Hebrew. “I think that sport is a pure thing and that there is no need to mix politics and sport."