For some players in the men’s and women’s beach handball competitions at Dakar 2026 the event represents their first-ever competitive tournament with their national team. 

For others, like Spain goalkeeper Maria ARNAY MANCEBO, it represents their fifth. 

Along with teammate Victoria GOMEZ GARCIA, ARNAY MANCEBO has played in the 2024 U16 European Championship, where Spain finished sixth, won gold at both the 2025 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship and 2025 U17 European Championship, and took silver at the 2026 U17 European Championship.

And that experience is being put to good use at Dakar 2026.

“We help our team because as we have been in previous international events, we have a little more experience, we know where are we going and how to handle some situations,” says the goalkeeper about herself and teammate GOMEZ GARCIA providing support to their teammates. 

 

“For example, the first match in a tournament is always the most complicated one because you have to get used to the competition so it’s very important that Vicky (GOMEZ GARCIA) and I already had this experience; we can advise them about specific things.

“It was good for us that we already played against China because they are a very good team and we came here without so much information about them,” adds ARNAY MANCEBO about their Dakar 2026 opening game which they won 14:12 via shoot-out. “They will improve their level during the competition. They are a very complete team and they have many chances to achieve a good result here.”

But Spain themselves are on course for a good result, winning all three of their games so far, ARNAY MANCEBO her side move into the quarter-finals with maximum points and the best defence (112 points conceded, tied with Croatia).

The experienced player honed both her beach and indoor skills at Club Balonmano Getasur in Spain, a rare example of a club which offers both disciplines of the sport under the same organisation.

“Having more or less the same team for indoor and beach is very helpful because we understand each other very good in all aspects,” says ARNAY MANCEBO. “I have been playing for them since I started handball, so we know each other very well and you can notice it when the season changes from indoor to beach handball.”

Early on in her career ARNAY MANCEBO had played both as an outfield player and goalkeeper, but decided to focus on being the last line of defence.

“I like the responsibility,” she says with a beaming smile about the positional move. “Over the years I enjoyed being a goalkeeper more. Also, in beach I realised it’s a very important position which requires a high level, not only defensively but also offensively, as you have to be the first one who starts the fast-break or even to score a goal. It’s what I like doing and also what I enjoy the most.”

 

Responsibility comes naturally to the young shotstopper and despite her years, is already thinking ahead about further responsibilities by going to university to study and become a neurologist.

“I am not 100% sure yet about what to study, but it’s true that everything related to the brain and how it works keeps all my attention and also being able to help people to have a better life would be amazing,” she explains. “My mother is a doctor, but not a neurologist, so the idea is a mix of everything really; mostly coming from my personal side and the idea of helping people.”

For now, ARNAY MANCEBO is concentrating on Dakar 2026 and taking in the atmosphere and experience which is unique for Olympians.
“Being in the Olympic Village is a very nice experience to live. I share my room with my teammates but also with girls from the Spanish athletics team,” she explains.

“It’s different to what we are used to, but it’s always good to meet new people from other disciplines, to see how they live, work and train outside of the handball world. It’s a very beautiful experience that you can live only once in your life and one which every athlete aspires to live.”

For ARNAY MANCEBO, her teammates, coaching staff and Spain handball fans, it is an experience they want to end with a medal.

Thanks to Carmen de Weert for Spanish to English translation