Going for the hat-trick

French handball star Nikola Karabatic has won it all. But even after 2 Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012), 3 world championship titles (2009, 2011, 2015) and 3 European crowns (2006, 2010, 2014), the two-time World Player of the Year is as hungry for success as ever.

"This year," he insisted in early 2016, "the Olympics are the main objective."

A few alarm bells sounded in January, just 7 months before Rio, as France finished a disappointing 5th at the Euro in Poland.

But their star centre-back, who plays alongside brother Luka at PSG (their father was also a professional handball player), is ready to step up again, as "Les Experts" target an unprecedented 3rd successive Olympic title.