The International Handball Federation has learned with great sorrow about the passing of Javier García Cuesta, a legendary handball coach and former player who left an indelible mark on the sport both in Spain and worldwide. García Cuesta passed away at the age of 78 years old.

Born in 1947 in Mieres, Spain, Javier García Cuesta was a prominent figure in handball, competing as a player at the highest level, including the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Transitioning to coaching, he forged an impressive international career, guiding national teams across three continents and shaping the development of handball globally.

His coaching tenure included leading the United States of America to one of the biggest performances in their history, by winning the PanAmerican Games in 1987, securing a place at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Then, he returned to Europe, where he was Spain’s coach at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.

He went on to coach on two different continents, leading the Egypt national team at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, as well as the Brazil national team, while also serving as the Portugal national team coach between 1999 and 2005, leading the European side in two editions of the IHF Men’s World Championship, in 2001 and 2003.

He then served as the USA national team coach once again, between 2014 and 2018, before retiring.

His influence on the sport extended beyond the court as he also served as technical director for the Royal Spanish Handball Federation, dedicating himself to nurturing new talents and advancing modern training methodologies.

The IHF President, Dr Hassan Moustafa, extends its deepest condolences to Javier García Cuesta’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. His memory will forever remain a source of inspiration within the global handball community.