Mickaël Robin, aged 40, came out of retirement to win a title. He had planned to retire at the end of the 2023-2024 season with Saint-Raphaël Var handball. But, he couldn’t resist the call to play for Los Angeles Handball Club in early March. Mickey reflects on this brief experience playing alongside well-known players like William Accambray, Viran Morros, Vid Kavticnik, Michael Kraus, and coach Morten Olsen.
Two years later, after being persuaded for just a week-long championship finale, he agreed due to the limited commitment. Vincent Gérard had also returned from retirement to play for Barcelona as a medical joker. However, Mickaël needed a break and had turned down other offers in France.
His main goal in returning to sport was the human adventure and the chance to win a title. Mickaël is a big fan of the United States and admires their culture, sports, music, and work ethics. He had also played in Miami for the Coupe de la Ligue in 2008-2009, which left a memorable experience despite the loss.
During the tournament in the U.S., Mickaël recalls a tough match against a young New York team, reminiscing about their last-second victory. He proudly mentions being a champion in the United States.
Although the team had strong personalities, they had not played together before the tournament, leading to some challenges during the matches. Mickaël had a great start but felt fatigue setting in later on.
There is some enthusiasm for handball in the U.S., especially with influential figures like Lewis Howes trying to promote the sport on social media. Mickaël hopes that the sport will continue to grow, especially with the focus on handball during the Olympics in the U.S., although there are structural obstacles that need to be addressed in the country.
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