Gauthier Mvumbi

Gauthier Thierry Mvumbi (born 15 May 1994) is a French handball player born to immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). He plays at the pivot position and represented the DR Congo on its men's national handball team during the 2021 World Men's Handball Championship. Due to his massive size and skill, he became a viral video sensation at the world championship, where he was referred to as the "Shaq of Handball" and the "Congo Colossus".

Early years and size Mvumbi was born in 1994 in Dreux, France. He acquired French nationality on 22 December 2003, through the collective effect of his parents' naturalization. He began playing handball with friends in 2007. He was a basketball fan growing up, and he cited Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Shaquille O'Neal as his idols. Asked what distinguishes him, Mvumbi pointed to "my physique and my efficiency... My strengths are my strength and my speed for shorter distances." though other sources indicate that his weight has been understated.

Prior to the 2021 world championship, Mvumbi played for Dreux AC in Nationale 2, a lower division of France's Ligue Nationale de Handball. Mvumbi previously played six seasons with Vernouillet in Nationale 1, but he returned to his hometown of Dreux in the summer of 2020, where he lived with his parents.

2021 World Championship DR Congo qualified for the World Men's Handball Championship for the first time in 2021. Mvumbi was the team's breakout star, playing at midfield. He scored four goals against Argentina and another four goals against 2021 world champion Denmark, despite being double teamed.

Due to his "massive appearance", he was compared during the world championship to basketball player, Shaquille O'Neal, and referred to as the "Shaq of handball". The two spoke by phone during the national championship with O'Neal calling Mvumbi his little brother. In January 2021, Handball Planet called him "the most popular handball player on the Earth".

After the world championship, Mvumbi acknowledged that he had become a symbol of an athlete who proves it can be done despite being overweight. He noted that he received many touching messages from people who struggled with weight problems and tried to respond to each one.