As Jenny Karlson dons the blue and white jersey at the start of the upcoming season, she will infuse the field with a fresh spirit and the essential quality that has long been needed by a team from a city known for producing legends in this sport.

Born 28 years ago in Gothenburg, the handball player and new recruit for the Future of Bemax also carries an inspiring tale of resilience, demonstrating the tenacity of a brave woman who never relinquishes her dreams, battling a serious illness daily, just as she competes against opponents on the court.

Jenny faced intense pain on her ascent in the handball world, and at 18, she discovered she had ulcerative colitis, an inflammation of the colon. At 23, as her medication ceased to be effective, her condition worsened, leading to the necessity of surgery.

“It hurts, you feel awful, and then at certain times everything just stops,” Karlsson shared with the French media while wearing the Brest jersey.

During the surgery, she underwent an ileostomy and had a stoma fitted—an abdominal opening that collects waste, which she must change when full.

This was a significant challenge for a young athlete, yet Jenny emerged even stronger.

Despite a six-month wait to join a club, she remained devoted to her beloved sport.

“Finding a club was tough because people were uncertain if I could play again,” recalled Karlsson, who had played in Denmark prior to her surgery.

Initially, Jenny didn’t discuss her illness much, revealing to “Ekip” that admitting to being unwell felt against her nature. However, she later chose to advocate for awareness around living with a stoma.

She created an Instagram account to share her journey openly.

“Few truly understand what it involves; many are scared. I wanted to be someone to show everyone how we can stay active and continue playing handball,” Jenny told the French publication “Ladepeche.”

She candidly admitted on Instagram that the journey has not always been easy.

“I’ve faced many tough years and struggles to feel comfortable with the ‘bag’ on my stomach—I wouldn’t be truthful if I said it was always easy for me,” stated the Swedish handball player.

Nevertheless, she has triumphed over her challenges and is now relishing both life and handball once more.

“Today, I realize just how unwell I truly was, and now I can do whatever I wish—everything is great now,” she concluded.

When her professional career eventually concludes, Jenni plans to have her stoma removed, but for now, this remarkable woman anticipates numerous victories on the court—starting this fall while wearing the Budućnost jersey.

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