Olympic Games - Six Handball-faces for the medal dream
For Germany's handball teams, there is a general rehearsal for the Olympic Games on Sunday. The DHB-Women aim for revenge against Brazil at 15.00 hours, while the Men test against group opponents Japan at 17.30 hours. Roles in both teams are clearly defined. The German Press Agency presents the quiet leaders and unbothered young stars, who will make a difference during the season peak in France.
Juri Knorr
Germany's playmaker is in the spotlight like every major tournament. At the home EM in January, the key player failed to meet his own high expectations. The pressure in Paris will not be any less. "We expect a lot from him and hope for a stable tournament," said national coach Alfred Gislason. For a successful medal mission, the DHB-Team needs the brilliant moments of team director Juri Knorr: his overview, his goals from the backcourt, and his brilliant passes.
Andreas Wolff
The German national goalkeeper knows how to win Olympic medals. When Germany won bronze in Rio, Wolff was already in goal. The 33-year-old is now arguably the best goalkeeper in the world - also because he went through a long maturation process. From the impulsive hothead, he has become a balanced routine player. With all his experience, the Bundesliga pro will provide his young teammates stability in pressure situations. His outstanding saves are almost always reliable.
Marko Grgic
The tension is immense at a tournament like the Olympics. Young players who bring the necessary relaxation are all the more important. For "Freestyle" Marko Grgic (20), as Wolff calls the young star, the Paris Games are the first major event with the national team. His agility and carefree attitude can benefit the entire team. "He brings something that we have been missing a little. He doesn't make too much of a fuss and doesn't create stress," praised Gislason.
Viola Leuchter
What Marko Grgic is to the Men's team, Viola Leuchter is to the Women's team. At her first WM participation in December, the powerful left-handed player was chosen as the best young player of the tournament. After her knee injury, the 20-year-old is fit in time for the Olympics. "She has a good carefree attitude and is something special for us with her power play. I'm glad I have her," said national coach Markus Gaugisch. Leuchter's power from the backcourt could be decisive in the Olympic opener against the small South Korean women.
Alina Grijseels
The responsibility in the German Women's handball team is on two shoulders. Since 2021, Emily Bölk and Alina Grijseels have formed the captain duo. While Bölk is often driven by her emotions, Grijseels is considered a quiet leader. Her performance gives her the necessary authority. For Gaugisch and the German team, the 28-year-old is indispensable. On good days, the leadership player reaches world-class level. Without a top performance from the backcourt player, the entry into the Olympic quarterfinals seems almost impossible.
Katharina Filter
The conversion rate is often a weakness in the German Women's handball team. Therefore, a goalkeeper who can match the team's weak phases is all the more important. Already at the WM in December, backup goalkeeper Katharina Filter kept her team in the game several times. Against Hungary on Friday, she prevented Germany from trembling towards a loss. Her calmness and ease comes from the beach. "At beach handball, everyone is a little more relaxed. That helps me stay calm in crucial situations," reported Filter, who plays for both national teams.
- The DHB-Women will face Brazil in Rio's revenge match at 15:00 hours on Sunday during Germany's handball teams' Olympic Games preparation.
- Meanwhile, the German men will test their mettle against Japan in their group fixtures, scheduled for 17:30 hours on the same day.
- Focusing on Baden-Württemberg, the German Press Agency showcases the women's team's unbothered young stars, set to make a difference during the season's peak in Paris.
- Japan, known for its dedicated handball teams, will pose a formidable challenge to Germany, allowing both sides to assess their strengths and weaknesses before the big event.
- Germany (historically, France), as the host nation, is expected to deliver a spectacular performance, carrying the weight of expectations on its shoulders at the Olympic Games.
- The men's handball team's star player, Juri Knorr, faces pressure like never before, aiming to repeat his outstanding performance at home EM earlier this year.
- Additionally, the women's team's goalkeeper, Andreas Wolff, has proven expertise in securing Olympic medals, having contributed significantly in Germany's bronze-winning effort in Rio.
- Discussing Germany's men's team, Gislason reflects on the influential role of Marko Grgic, a young player he believes brings an essential calmness and carefree attitude to the group.
- In the women's team, 20-year-old Viola Leuchter showcases her prodigious talent as a left-handed player, serving as a powerhouse for her team in the Olympic opener against South Korea.
- Contributing to the women's team's strength, Alina Grijseels and Emily Bölk form the captain duo, providing emotional drive and quiet leadership, vitalizing their backcourt strategy in France.
- Modern handball involves beach-influenced calmness, as testified by Katharina Filter, Germany's backup goalkeeper, who maintains her coolness under pressure, ensuring crucial saves throughout the crucial Olympic period.
