There was a time when Luke Zahradka’s older brother refused to play catch with him or his two younger brothers in the backyard. He was enforcing sibling hierarchy. But three decades later, Zahradka has not only outlasted all his brothers in playing the sport, but also earned the unique distinction of leading his national flag football team to a spot at the LA28 Olympic Games – something the Italian quarterback is still struggling to believe.
“(My brothers) stopped playing sports in college and I continued,” Zahradka told Olympics.com. “I graduated in 2013 and now it's 2026. Things have changed, the dynamic of the sport, the popularity here in Europe, and now with the Olympics at hand it's just mind-boggling.
