Great Britain men's handball captain Bobby White will complete a remarkable journey when he leads his side out against France in the 2012 London Olympics next week.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper only started playing the sport in 2007 when he answered an advertisement fronted by Sir Steve Redgrave for the Sporting Giants campaign, which was launched in 2007 with the intention of attracting tall athletes to compete in handball, volleyball and rowing.
"Four or five years ago I never thought this was possible so to be eight days away is amazing," White said.
White, from Milton Keynes, was playing goalkeeper for football side Newport Pagnell when he answered the call and five years later he will lead Team GB out for their first ever appearance at the Olympics against the reigning gold medallists on Sunday.
He said: "I joined the Sporting Giants scheme in 2008 and joined the training camp in Denmark soon after and I haven't looked back. I have played in Denmark, Greece and France, it's been a whirlwind journey with lots of ups and downs, but I wouldn't change it for the world.
"I didn't have handball in mind when I joined but I was over 6ft 3in, under 25 and played sport with my hands so I ticked the boxes and got the invite to a handball trial. As a goalkeeper it's so different from football, I fell in love with the game from day one.
"When I first started the handball programme they made it clear that only a few of us would make it to the Olympics so to think I am here, as captain, is an incredible feeling and I'm so proud."
White is hoping to use his time in the spotlight to secure a club contract for after the Games and hopes to add a new country to his already impressive list.
"I'm going to be putting myself in the shop window and hoping to attract some offers from clubs around Europe, but also I have opportunities to work in the UK with developing handball. But right now my focus is on the next two weeks," he added.
"There is scope to earn a lot of money playing somewhere like the Bundesliga in Germany, personally I just want a nice opportunity somewhere, I spent a year in France and a year in Greece so I like experiencing different cultures and playing somewhere I have never been before."