After the Olympic Games: Silver coup as an encouragement: handball players have “much more in them”

Alfred Gislason was not in the mood for a lavish silver party. The national handball coach preferred to spend the last evening of the Olympics alone in the old town of Lille. “Final celebrations and such are not for me. Just go home,” said the Icelander before flying home.

When the 64-year-old boarded the plane, his players’ heads must have still been pounding. Unlike their coach, the German handball players let it rip after their sensational second place at the Olympic Games. First at the closing ceremony, and later with some cold drinks in the German House.

During the medal walk after midnight, the frustration of the Danish defeat was long forgotten. “Fuck it,” trumpeted veteran Kai Häfner into the microphone on stage, signaling the start of a wild party. In the background, teammate Rune Dahmke was already ordering the first beers with a hand signal. Saxophonist Andre Schnura warmed up the players, then it was time to go to the bar.

Closer to the top of the world

After surprisingly successful Olympic days, the German Handball Association is looking ahead to the next few years with optimism. The fact that the youngest and least experienced of all Olympic teams is returning home with a silver medal allows the association to dream of a future full of titles. The 2027 World Cup at home could be a winter fairytale.

The players know that too. “There’s still a lot more to it,” assured left winger Dahmke, who at 31 was one of the oldest in the German Olympic squad. “If we all continue to develop together like we have in the last six months, then there’s still a lot of potential and maybe we’ll win a few more medals.”

Even if the desolate final performance against Olympic champions Denmark left a different impression: The German handball players have taken a step forward and closed the gap to the world’s best with victories over Sweden, European champions France and arch-rivals Spain. “The team has now progressed significantly. It is much more stable,” praised Gislason and spoke of a “very good development” since the home European Championships in January.

Gislason as architect and development worker

When the handball teams play for the World Cup title in Croatia, Denmark and Norway from January 14th, the competition will look at the carefree German team with different eyes. “When you see the team, it can only get better. We have no experience, we’re still very young. For most of us, it was the first time we took part in the Olympics. I see us in a very good position where we can decide for ourselves what we do in the future,” said young star Renars Uscins.

Hardly any other player embodies Gislason’s philosophy as much as Uscins. Since many experienced players have turned their backs on the national team in recent years – sometimes due to injury, sometimes for family reasons – the coach was called upon to act as an architect and development worker and relied entirely on young talent. Newcomers such as the U21 world champions Uscins (22) and goalkeeper David Späth (22) suddenly no longer had any protection and had to take on responsibility instead.

With success. Uscins, in particular, became a leading player at the Olympics. The six-second miracle in Lille, in which the backcourt ace saved the German selection with the final whistle and sent them into extra time, will forever be associated with his name. “We have a team that has a future. That is promising and that will not be the last time that we have been in a final,” announced goalkeeper Andreas Wolff.