The Man that Does it All: Gary Hines

I got involved in handball when I was 14 through the boys and girls club. Although I played basketball, track-and-field, and football in high school, handball was the sport that was year round and it combined almost all the sports that I loved so I stuck with it and it won me over because I got to start traveling the world playing handball.

Handball has taught me as an athlete to never be categorized as a position in a sport. It has also taught me not to accept people telling me that I am too small or too skinny to play a position. When I first started out playing handball I started out playing left wing because I was one of the smallest players on the team and once my skills started to develop and I started to jump higher I also started playing in the back court. Once I started playing in the backcourt, I started learning how to play right back, center back, and right wing. I learned to play every position because I was talented enough to play anywhere on the court and I wanted to increase my chances of playing on any team.

Based on my experiences as an athlete and a handball player I would tell my younger self to don't be afraid to take chances, and not to be afraid to be the best that you can be even though you may be shy or scared. Don't be afraid to shine and be great. Believe in yourself first because no one else will believe in you more than yourself. Also to my younger self, I would say to find people that have your best interests and a few people that you can trust for things that you do not know about and that can teach you. Don’t let people use you as just another athlete.

My journey as an athlete was not easy at all. I had to work extra hard to get where I am. Also being an athlete playing Professional handball in Europe I've had to work twice as hard as most athletes here and prove myself all over again on each team I start with. Also being an athlete here in Europe, professional people think that I just have a talent and that I don't put in the work. I would like people to know or remember that as an athlete here in Germany or in general I work twice as hard as the normal athlete in their sport. I'm very disciplined and when other people are resting or taking days off, I’m working on my craft, working on my body, mind and constantly trying to get better no matter how old I am or how much experience I have, I always want to get better.

My proudest accolade would be my 2nd season in Germany with my 1st professional team. I scored 300 goals in one season and as far as I know no other player has done that besides me in the 4th division. Another accomplishment would be being the youngest member to be selected on the men's national team at 18 years old and my first tournament we got a bronze medal in the Pan American games in Dominican Republic in 2003. To be in my 19th year as a national team athlete and still be able to produce at a high level and out perform some of these guys that are 10 years younger than me is special. Some of my goals for the year 2021 would be to continue to maintain my athletic ability as well as continue to get better. I would also like to complete my B license to become a handball coach. Another goal would be trying to compete on American Ninja Warrior because I've been competing on Germany Ninja Warrior for the past 5 seasons and now it's time to compete on home soil.