Relentless barrier in the indoor arena or sun-drenched beach, Joelle Arno stands as an impenetrable fortress for her team.
Joelle Arno, a talented goalkeeper hailing from the picturesque Baar municipality of Gunningen, is making waves in the world of handball. Currently playing for the second-division team ESV 1927 Regensburg, Arno is one of the top performers in the 2. Bundesliga women's handball league, with an impressive record of 267 saves in 26 games, placing her second best in the league as of July 2025.
Arno's journey in handball began in her youth, playing for HSG Rietheim-Weilheim, TG Trossingen, and HSG Rottweil. Her career picked up speed in Bietigheim and Herrenberg before she moved to SV Allensbach and eventually Regensburg. Notably, Arno has represented Germany in the U17 and U18 teams at the European Championships (EM), and she is one of twelve players nominated for the EM in Turkey this year.
Despite her impressive achievements, Arno's early career progression from junior handball teams to the German national beach handball team remains somewhat unclear. While she is recognised as one of the top players in the 2. Bundesliga, specific details about her career milestones, transfers, or national team achievements are not readily available. For a more comprehensive understanding of her career, one would need to refer to official German Handball Federation releases or dedicated player profiles.
Arno is set to make her debut in the women's national team after two European championships with the juniors. However, she has not yet played in the European Championship, World Games, or the World Cup with the senior team, despite being in the reserve squad. This year, the German women's team will face off against Bulgaria, Poland, and Denmark in the tournament in Alanya.
Playing on sand is quite different from indoor handball, and Arno emphasises this difference. As a goalkeeper, she does something unusual in her saves, jumping in front of players to make it more spectacular. Arno prefers to play with her opponents a bit, offer something, and then suddenly close up. In beach handball, as a goalkeeper, she can score two points with one throw.
Interestingly, the German women's beach handball team is the current world champion. Arno will stand in the goal for the Bunkerladies in Regensburg next season, marking her third year with the team. Her unique style and impressive saves are sure to add an exciting element to the team's performances.
Arno might consider applying for a spot in the German national beach handball team, given her unorthodox saving technique and preference for playing with her opponents in a more dynamic manner, which could potentially score two points with one throw in beach handball.
In light of her fascination with beach handball and her desire to try something new, Arno might find it captivating to experience the difference in playing on sand compared to indoor handball, especially considering the German women's beach handball team's current world champion status.
