Olympic Games: Six handball faces for the medal dream

For Germany’s handball teams, the dress rehearsal for the Olympic Games is scheduled for Sunday. The DHB women want revenge for last week’s defeat against Brazil (3 p.m.), while the men are testing their mettle against group opponents Japan (5.30 p.m.). The roles in both teams are clearly assigned. The German Press Agency presents the quiet leaders and carefree young stars who will be important at the season’s highlight in France.

Yuri Knorr

As at every major tournament, Germany’s playmaker is in the spotlight. At the European Championships in January, the key player failed to live up to his own high expectations. The pressure will not be less in Paris. “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 conductor 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 in 2016, Wolff was already in goal. The 33-year-old is now perhaps the best goalkeeper in the world – not least because he has undergone a long maturation process. The impulsive hothead has become a balanced veteran. With all his experience, the Bundesliga professional should give his young teammates stability even in pressure situations. His outstanding saves can almost always be relied upon anyway.

Marko Grgic

The tension is enormous at a tournament like the Olympics. Young players are all the more important, as they provide the necessary relaxed attitude with their carefree attitude. For “cheeky” Marko Grgic (20), as Wolff dubbed the young star, the games in Paris are the first major event with the national team. His sense of humor and carefree attitude can do the whole team good. “He brings something that we have been missing a little. He doesn’t worry too much and doesn’t stress,” praised Gislason.

Viola Candlestick

Viola Leuchter is to the women’s team what Marko Grgic is to the men’s team. At her first World Cup appearance in December, the left-handed thrower with a powerful throw was voted the tournament’s best young player. After her knee injury, the 20-year-old is fit again in time for the Olympics. “She has a good carefree attitude and her throwing power is something special for us. I’m glad I have her,” said national coach Markus Gaugisch. Leuchter’s power from the backcourt could be decisive, especially in the Olympic opener against the small South Koreans.

Alina Grijseels

The responsibility in the German women’s handball team is shared between two shoulders. Emily Bölk and Alina Grijseels have been the captain duo since 2021. While Bölk often lets her emotions drive her, Grijseels is considered a quiet leader. Her performance gives her the necessary authority. The 28-year-old is indispensable for Gaugisch and the German team. On good days, the leading player reaches world-class level. Without a top performance from the backcourt player, reaching the Olympic quarter-finals seems almost impossible.

Katharina Filter

The utilization of opportunities is often a shortcoming in the game of the German handball players. This makes it all the more important to have a goalkeeper who can make up for weak phases. At the World Cup in December, goalkeeper Katharina Filter kept her team in the game time and again. The 25-year-old also ensured that Germany was able to tremble to victory against Hungary on Friday. Her calm and relaxed attitude comes from the sand. “Everyone is a bit more relaxed in beach handball. That helps me to stay calm in crucial situations,” said Filter, who plays for both national teams.