“Anyone who weighs up risks doesn’t belong here”: how do elite handball players manage physical health risk throughout their professional careers?

Using reflexive thematic analysis, we generated four themes: (1) Externalizing risks and refraining from proactivity, (2) Relinquishing control under medical uncertainty, (3) Fluctuating prioritization of health or success, and (4) Calculated health-risk taking to achieve success. The findings illustrate that athletes' risk management strategies vary based on career stage, injury experiences, situational priorities, and social pressures. The insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of physical health risk management in high-performance sports and their sociocultural underpinnings. The study highlights the need for interventions that foster proactive risk management, emphasize personal agency, and balance performance with long-term health.