With Palomar College instructor David Hamilton as head coach, the U.S. basketball team won gold at the 2025 Deaflympics, the worldwide sporting event held for deaf athletes.\u00a0The U.S. team defeated Ukraine 69-59 in the final to win the top medal at the Deaflympics held in Tokyo in November.<\/p>\n
Hamilton, an American Sign Language instructor at Palomar, had been playing and coaching on the U.S. deaf basketball team since he was 17 years old. He had stepped away from coaching for several years, but returned after watching the 2024 Olympics in Paris.<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning the gold medal at the Deaflympics was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was truly one of the best feelings I have ever had. Bringing home a gold medal is a major accomplishment for our country because we represent more than just ourselves – we represent every person back home. For many, competing at this level is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hamilton said that when he was selected as the head coach for the U.S. deaf basketball team, he made a promise to assemble the best 12 players possible and prepare them for the journey they faced. The U.S. deaf men\u2019s basketball team had not won a gold medal at the Deaflympics since 2009.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it would be challenging,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cOur players live all over the country, and the United States is simply too large to gather the team frequently. We had just one year to prepare, so every opportunity to train together mattered.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since deaf athletes must fundraise to pay for their training and trip expenses, Hamilton said was able to secure enough funding so they could proceed. After he held several training camps during the year, Hamilton was able to raise enough money that the team was able to hold a final weeklong training camp in Tokyo immediately preceding the Deaflympics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat preparation proved to be one of the key reasons we were able to win gold,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cFrom day one, our mission was clear: prepare, train, and be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hamilton said the Ukraine team, which had beaten the U.S. team by 25 points in the 2021 Deaflympics, was the heavy favorite to repeat in 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of our commitment and preparation, we earned a chance to face them again – and this time, we defeated them in the championship match,\u201d he said. \u201cNow the USA Men\u2019s Team has regained its position as the Number 1 ranked team in World Deaf Basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n
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