How a Croatian Connection Sparked an Olympic Passion
Bob Kohorst didn’t set out to become one of handball’s biggest champions in the United States.
In fact, before 2018, he couldn’t have told you much about the sport at all.
That changed when he arrived in Zagreb as a U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Croatia. An invitation to a local match led him into a packed arena, where he was met with a blur of passing, leaping and lightning-fast shots on goal.
What began as a diplomatic courtesy turned into a genuine passion. During his time in Croatia with his wife, Shelley, from 2018 to 2021, Bob made a point of attending as many sporting events as possible, from water polo to sailing to tennis. But it was handball, a sport he’d never seen before, that quickly became his favorite to watch.
“It was so physical and so quick, I couldn’t take my eyes off it,” Bob recalled. “And the fans, they lived and breathed every moment.”
The more he learned, the more he gravitated toward the sport. He went from never watching or knowing the rules to building relationships with officials in the International Handball Federation and with the president of the Croatian Olympic Committee. These connections helped shape his vision for the future of the sport in the U.S.
In Croatia, handball isn’t a niche sport — it’s a national obsession. Now, back home in Pasadena, California, the Kohorsts aim to spark the same excitement around the sport within American fans.
When the Olympic Games return to Los Angeles in 2028, Bob will serve as the Handball Venue Ambassador, as well as a liaison to the Croatian Olympic Committee. In this role, he hopes to introduce the game to thousands of spectators and millions of viewers, many of whom will be seeing it for the first time.
“Handball has many characteristics that should excite American sport enthusiasts,” he said. “If Team USA can perform well, we could create a wave of interest.”
The Kohorsts’ support for handball is part of a bigger picture. Through the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation (USOPF), they’re helping Team USA athletes prepare not only for competition, but for life beyond sport.
That commitment comes naturally to Bob and Shelley, who have been passionate about athletics their entire lives. Both former amateur athletes and sports fans, they’ve cheered from the stands at multiple Olympic Games and understand firsthand the dedication it takes to compete at the highest level.
In 2017, a year before Bob was appointed ambassador, Los Angeles was awarded the 2028 Olympic Games, something that he and Shelley recall as their inspiration to invest in Team USA through the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation.
“Athletes devote four years of their lives to win a 20 second race,” Shelley remarked. “They have such a short window while they are athletes; then they have families to raise and pursue education. We want to impact every part of their lives before, during and after competition.”
After joining the Movement in 2023, the Kohorsts quickly realized just how much impact their involvement could have on athletes’ lives.
“It is a very patriotic feeling to support [Team] USA and watch the effort put forth by all of the athletes,” Shelley said. “The athletes give their all for many years and I hope our support makes the journey easier and possible for them.”
“It's about helping them with every aspect of their lives outside of sport. They devote their whole lives to represent the U.S. — we can help them give back for the rest of theirs,” Bob said.
When LA 2028 arrives, Bob will be courtside once again, this time not as a newcomer but as an advocate for a sport he discovered halfway around the world. Forty-four years after first experiencing the magic of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the Kohorsts will be back in their hometown, helping to showcase handball on one of the world’s biggest stages.
“The Olympic Games bring countries together in honest competition, where the common bond of being the best is the goal,” Bob said. “It is especially important in today’s world that the Olympics unite us and allow the world to reflect for a short time on common celebrations.”
For more information about the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation, click here (or click to make a gift). To learn more about attending the Olympic or Paralympic Games with the USOPF, contact the team at gameshospitality@usopc.org.
