Paris 2024 will bring together the best athletes in the world and Beach Handball will take part in a unique exhibition in the city of Créteil on July 27, 28 and 29. There will be 6 all-star teams, 3 men’s, 3 women’s and the local selected teams.
Gisella Bonomi of Argentina is part of the Vela team that will compete in the competition. Fiorella Corimberto, Nahuel Pérez Baptista and coach Leticia Brunati will also be present.
Growth on the rise
Argentine beach handball has been growing steadily for several years, the gold medal they won at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 was a before and after for the discipline.
Gisella Bonomi highlights the desire and the work being done by coaches, players, managers and organizers of national tournaments. All are working to improve the structure of beach handball. “We are growing and trying to follow in the footsteps of other countries that have sustained beaching over time.”
China World Cup
Working hard and programming their heads so that everything they wished for would become a reality was what led the Argentine national team to become runner-up in the world championship in China.
“Since I was a little girl she taught me to dream the impossible and that is a great starting point”, said the player about the work done by coach Leticia Brunati.
“I don’t think there won’t be a time when I’ll say it and it won’t give me chills, it’s something I only imagined in my dreams,” said Bonomi, who years ago stopped playing indoors and focused on the beach.said Bonomi, who several years ago stopped playing indoor and focused on the beach.
For her, they are two totally different sports that require different perspectives and mentalities. “Indoor asked me to have another physical preparation and sometimes it’s difficult to balance between the two modalities, I really enjoy playing beach and it’s something that didn’t happen with indoor.I really enjoy playing beach and it’s something that didn’t happen with indoor”.
Gisella Bonomi will be in France at the end of July with the best players in the world, “…it’s an honor to be selected, to be there and to play alongside people I grew up watching and learning from is going to be unique. I want to absorb everything I can and give my best”.
The Vela team
Bonomi will share a team with Brazil’s Patricia Scheppa, with whom she has played on other occasions. “Being able to play with her again is something I will enjoy very much. She is one of the exemplary players that beach handball has, not only at a sporting level but also as an athlete. She is someone I admire a lot.
Regarding the rest of the team she stated: “I know my teammates a little bit, some of them I have crossed paths with in different tournaments, I am very excited about what each one can bring to the group.”. Sailing is composed of Magdalini Kepesidou (GRE), Elisabeth Hammerstad (NOR), Line Gyldenlove Kristensen (DIN), Patricia Scheppa (BRA), Renata Csiki (HUG), Rianne Mol (NED) and Jimena Laguna (ESP).
Match Schedule
Beach Handball dreams of joining the Olympic calendar and being part of Los Angeles 2028. The sport has a great opportunity and significant support from its community.
“It’s a small environment compared to other disciplines but no matter what language you speak, we all share the same passion and are very cooperative.”
“We want this sport to be an Olympic sport and at the level it deserves,” said Gisella Bonomi.
Photos: CoSCABal/Camilo Rotela.
By Rocío Mariel García Sigüenza
