Handball
Olympic dream comes true: DHB women go to Paris
The German handball players qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time since 2008. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
The German handball players are following the men’s example and qualifying for the Olympic Games for the first time since 2008. The jubilation is great, and so are the expectations.
The exuberant started with the final whistle Olympic party for German handball players. “Now the big break is on. We can really do one better today. We deserve it too,” announced co-captain Emily Bölk after the easy 37:20 (19:13) win against Paraguay at the end of the qualifying tournament in Neu- Ulm is the motto for the evening.
Following the meaningless duel with the South Americans, in which right winger Jenny Behrend was the best thrower with six goals on Sunday, national coach Markus Gaugisch’s protégés posed for the celebratory photo with an oversized Paris ticket. They then celebrated with the enthusiastic fans for minutes about their first participation in the Olympic Games in 16 years, which had been perfected the day before.
Later we went to the other side of the Danube in Ulm for a sociable team evening, where the entire DHB entourage wanted to have a blast. “We will really celebrate,” announced DHB boss Andreas Michelmann.
Quarterfinals as an Olympic goal
By participating in the Olympics for the first time since 2008 in Beijing, the DHB women fulfilled their “biggest dream,” said Bölk. After the men qualified in mid-March, the German Handball Association is taking part in the summer games with both national teams. “The goal is to get to Lille,” said Michelmann.
The quarter-finals and medal games of the Olympic handball tournament will be held in Lille. DHB sports director Axel Kromer confirmed: “We want to be as successful as possible at the Olympics and not go home after the five preliminary round games in Paris. We will do everything we can to achieve that.”
Gaugisch also wanted nothing to do with the motto “Being there is everything.” “We’re going there to win something. It won’t be a summer trip,” said the national coach. They don’t want to rest on their laurels, but rather continue working consistently. “The path is not over. Now it’s about attacking the top nations. That’s a different story again, but definitely possible with this team,” said Gaugisch.
The DHB selection had already booked their longed-for Olympic ticket the day before with a convincing 28:24 win against European Championship third-placed Montenegro. After the game, there were a few tears of joy and relief and later champagne in front of the team hotel.
“It was a great trip”
“I’m very happy and satisfied that we got the job done. That’s an incredibly nice feeling. It was a great trip. The team did a great job,” said Gaugisch, praising the confident performances of his protégés at the qualifying tournament, which was the World Cup. Sixth finished first with 6:0 points.
“It’s unbelievable that we’re going to Paris. I’m super happy and super proud,” said Bölk and added: “We’ve eaten a lot of shit in crucial situations in recent years. It’s all the nicer that we’re keeping a cool head this time and were able to reward ourselves with a ticket to Paris.”
Gaugisch viewed participation in the Olympics as an important milestone in the further development of the team. “This will give us a year because we have a lot of time in the summer for joint measures that otherwise don’t exist,” said the 49-year-old.
In the game against Montenegro, the DHB team struggled for half, but turned up the heat after the break and demonstrated their increased performance. The best thrower was backcourt player Julia Maidhof, who scored nine goals in her 50th international match.
Co-captain Alina Grijseels, who had celebrated her 28th birthday the day before, rejoiced afterwards: “This is the best and greatest gift I have received in my life.” And left winger Antje Döll confessed with wet eyes: “The Olympic dream was far away for years, now it has become real. I am very grateful for it, it is something special.”