Malmo 2018: 5 reasons USA can dominate

The USA have a long tradition in goalball. The men’s and women’s team have shared a path of success for four decades.

They made their joint international debut at the 1982 World Championships on home soil in Indianapolis, with both teams taking gold.

As the 2018 Worlds approach, the USA are hoping to repeat such a feat on Swedish soil. Check out five reasons why they may very well do it.

• Both the men’s and women’s teams have been a powerhouse on the international goalball scene almost since the sport began.

• The women have reached eight World Championship podiums since 1982, winning four titles including the last edition in Espoo, Finland, in 2014. Their only glitch came in 1994 when they finished eighth.

• The men have claimed medals at five World Championships with their best finish coming on their debut in 1982. They are the current bronze medallists.

• At Paralympic level, the US women have won gold twice at Stoke Mandeville/New York 1984 and Beijing 2008. They sit at the top of the all-time table with six medals in total including a bronze at Rio 2016. Like the women, the US men won gold in 1984 and went on to secure a further four podium finishes, including silver at the last Paralympics.

• Look out for Asya Miller in the women’s team. She was the top scorer with nine goals at Rio 2016, helping her team to bronze.

The 2018 IBSA Goalball World Championships run from 3-8 June. Featuring 28 of the world’s best teams, men and women will play in four groups.

The USA men will play in group B alongside Brazil, Canada, Germany, Iran, Egypt, Czech Republic and Japan. The women will take on China, Algeria, Canada, Greece and Brazil in group D.

For more information, including the full match schedule, media accreditation and tickets, visit the official World Championships website.