- France (+150) is favored to win gold in both the men’s and women’s tournaments
- Handball made its first Olympic appearance in Berlin in 1936
- Olympic handball events will take place in Paris, France from July 25 to August 11, 2024
France won gold in men’s and women’s handball at the Tokyo Games, so it should be no surprise that both are favored to repeat on home soil. Denmark poses serious competition on the men’s side while the Norwegian women have captured gold at two of the past four Olympic Games.
Will the French men and women top the podium in Paris again this summer? Before we examine the odds, check out our tips for Betting on the 2024 Paris Olympics and get all of our Olympic Betting Picks.
2024 Men’s Handball Winner
France and Denmark dominate
France and Denmark are tied for the most Olympic handball gold medals at four, while the French have captured seven total medals versus five for the Danes. On the men’s side, France (+175) defeated Denmark (+185) 25-23 at Tokyo 2020, avenging their finals loss to the Danes at Rio 2016.
You have to go back four Olympic cycles, all the way to 2004, for the last time one of these two nations didn’t top the podium. Together, they’ve also won the last five IHF Handball World Championships, with Denmark winning three in a row in 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Novak Djokovic x Jo-Wilfried Tsonga x Kiki Mladenovic in attendance for a handball match tonight in France. 🇫🇷🤩 pic.twitter.com/xvVf5TAVS4
— Danny 🐊 (@DjokovicFan_) May 31, 2024
Longshots and Best Bets
Sweden (+600) collected four Olympic silver medals in men’s handball from 1992 to 2012, with a runner-up finish at the 2021 World Championships to boot. However, Spain (+900) beat them for bronze at the 2023 Worlds. The Spaniards have four Olympic bronze medals since 1996.
Either way, ignore the longshots. This one comes down to France or Denmark. With two World Championship gold medals since the last Olympics in Tokyo, we’ll take the underdog Danes (+185) to down France on their home court.
2024 Women’s Handball Winner
France and Norway lead the way
France (-135) claimed its first gold medal in women’s handball at Tokyo 2020. They’re also reigning world champions, defeating the Norwegians 31-28 in the 2023 final.
Norway (+175) defeated the French at the 2021 Worlds and took home Olympic gold in both 2008 and 2012.
CHAMPION DE FRANCE 2024 🏆💙💛 pic.twitter.com/bqz6LCbXhL
— Metz Handball (@MetzHandball) May 25, 2024
Best longshot
Denmark (+600) has the most-ever Olympic gold medals in women’s handball with three, but the last time they even competed for a medal was Athens 2004. The Danish ladies are coming off consecutive bronze medals at the 2021 and 2023 Worlds, however.
The Russian women won gold at Rio 2026 and fell in the final to France at Tokyo 2020. While they would pose serious competition to the French and Norwegians, Russia is banned from team sports, like handball, at Paris 2024
Best Bet
With the home fans on their side, France (-135) will defeat Norway and repeat as Olympic gold medalists in women’s handball.
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