1LT Charlie Peterson

Handball

1LT Charlie Peterson’s journey to team handball began after completing a four-year Division I basketball career at the United States Military Academy. The Indianapolis, Indiana, native appeared in all 118 games during his Army basketball career and served as team captain his senior year. After his basketball career ended, Peterson was recruited by Coach Ortega to try team handball and quickly began specializing in the sport. His basketball background and experience competing in a fast-paced team environment translated naturally to his new position as a pivot. Peterson saw handball as an opportunity to continue competing at an elite level while pursuing a lifelong dream of representing the United States at the Olympic Games. After commissioning as an Army Field Artillery officer in May 2024, Peterson continued developing in the sport, ultimately joining the Army World Class Athlete Program to pursue his Olympic aspirations while serving his country.