Despite good results, French handball is still noticeably absent from the mainstream media and the French Federation is now on a mission to improve the recognition of handball nationwide. They started off with Experts Handball, a web site that delivers all the facts and news about the French team’s results and training. It is also rich with pictures (by Cédric Martigny) and videos of the players that emphasize their physiques more often than not.

24-year-old Nikola Karabatic is probably the most talented of them all. And the sexiest too (he will appear in the 2009 edition of erotic French calendar Les Dieux du Stade). Born in Serbia (then Yugoslavia), the Number 13 in the French team arrived in France at age 4. He quickly demonstrated an amazing precocity, by playing in the French League (with Montpellier) at just 17, gaining his first national selection at just 18 and winning the Champions League (still with Montpellier Handball) at 19.

The lowest point of his career? The 2004 Athens Olympics, where the French team ranked only 5th. Beijing will definitely have a taste of revenge and Nikola will throw all his weight (225 lbs) in the battle to win gold.

“I really want handball to be recognized… So if I can assist,” he declared recently. Don’t you worry, Nikola, we will all be watching your Chinese exploits in August, if only to see you take your jersey off in celebration.

Experts Handball
Nikola Karabatic’s web site (in English)
Behind-the-scenes video of the photoshoot
via: French Rugby Players