– We must show good sportsmanship, then we will take them to the Olympics. This was said by national team manager Thorir Hergeirsson on the eve of the final loss against France in the World Cup in December. And on Saturday, the Norwegian handball ladies struck back with a crushing victory. They won their third Olympic gold with 26,664 spectators present in Lille, including the Norwegian crown prince couple and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. When the final whistle went, Nora Mørk and Stine Bredal Oftedal found each other immediately. So did several others. JUBEL: You get so happy when you win Olympic gold. This is Katrine Lunde’s third(!), and Camilla Herrem’s second. Photo: Reuters Already in the seconds before the end of the match, tears flowed on the meritorious teammates, and the tears did not stop when they were interviewed by Max shortly afterwards. – We managed it. We did it!, Mørk shouted at the images that rolled across Max’s screen. A tearful Mørk says to news: – It is, in a way, the crowning glory. And as everyone has reminded me a hundred times. That’s the one thing I don’t have. So now it’s complete. – Will we see you in LA in four years? – No, you don’t, she says and laughs. Mørk informs NTB that she will now take a break from the national team, but assures that she is not finished playing with the Norwegian flag on her chest. Salute to teammates – You put on the kit for Ingstad. How important was it to have her at the celebration? – Vilde and Ingvild, they are of course part of the squad. Vilde has played five matches as well, so it is fully deserved to become Olympic champion. So when she didn’t have the opportunity to be on the field herself, I think it was a nice gesture. – She is as big a winner as the rest of us, says Mørk about Ingstad. Vilde Ingstad was a central part of the Norwegian team in the Olympics, but tore his cruciate ligament in the last match in the group stage against Germany. Several of the Norwegian players were strongly affected by the incident and moved to tears. Ingvild Bakkerud was a reserve in the Norwegian squad. DRAMA: Vilde Ingstad tore his cruciate ligament during the match against Germany and lay on the ground writhing in pain. Several of the teammates were clearly affected. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Ingstad herself says that she burst when she saw the tribute: – I was a little moved then. I had held on for a long time, but when I saw it I couldn’t hold on any longer, she says to news. – How has it been to follow this from the stands? – Of course it hurts, but the girls have delivered, so it’s been fun to be close to and see them. Captain Oftedal is also happy, who can now put a perfect end to his national team career. – I feel absolutely fantastic. It is an enormous feeling of happiness, and I am relieved and happy and proud and grateful, she says to news. – How is it to finish with gold? – It’s almost too good to be true. But then it’s true nonetheless. It is both Mørk’s and Oftedal’s first Olympic gold, despite the fact that they have played for the national team for 14 and 15 years respectively. But it is also the last Olympic gold for both of them. GOLD TEAM: The handball girls are the best handball team of all time in the EC, WC, and now also in the Olympics. After the victory, the injured Vilde Ingstad and the reserve Ingvild Bakkerud paid tribute. The handball girls’ Olympic medals In chronological order: Seoul 1988 – Silver Barcelona 1992 – Silver Sydney 2000 – Bronze Beijing 2008 – Gold London 2012 – Gold Rio de Janeiro 2016 – Bronze Tokyo 2020 (2021) – Bronze Paris 2024 – Gold Finished behind in its 40 .Olympic match, Katrine Lunde marked herself early with a save in France’s second attack, but the home favorite started best. It was 1-4 before five minutes had been played. But after missing several chances, Nora Mørk was cold from the penalty spot as Norway reduced the score to 3-4. And ten minutes into the match, Sanna Solberg-Isaksen sent Norway into the lead, 5–4. But the lead was short-lived. GOOD ATMOSPHERE: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon during the final. Photo: AP France continued the pressure towards the Norwegian goal, and let it through a little too easily, said news’s handball expert Håvard Tvedten. Nevertheless, fewer and fewer balls escaped past last chance Lunde. At the other end of the pitch, Henny Reistad scored several important goals. – I think the Norwegians are able to adapt to this French attacking game. They have to pressure them into slightly poor finishes and slightly more technical errors, said Tvedten about the first half on news Sport. Only veteran goalkeeper Katrine Lunde has been part of all three Olympic triumphs, while Camilla Herrem took the gold in London 2012. GOAL COURSE: Henny Reistad scored four goals in the first half. So did Oftedal. Photo: AP Norge started off Captain Oftedal excelled in the first half, with four goals. The big game continued after the break, and Kari Brattset Dale sent Norway into a three-goal lead. Seven minutes into the second half, the Norwegians led with four goals for the first time in the game. IN FARTA: Oftedal gave everything to end his career with Olympic gold. Photo: AFP French Laura Flippes wanted to slow down the Norwegian lead and argued until the end, but again Lunde was steady between the nets. Defender Maren Aardahl won the ball, when France tried again. – They are playing a terribly bad attacking game now in France. Norwegian defense are very good at coming in and helping each other, said news expert Tvedten. The attacking game of the Norwegian women sat on the other side just as it should. Dale sent Norway up to a six-goal lead 21–15 after just over 11 minutes of the second half. SOLID: Kari Brattset Dale dished out several important finishes. Photo: Reuters Despite great French involvement in the stands, France struggled to make the reductions. Because it looked increasingly dark for the Olympic organiser, and increasingly bright for Oftedal and co. Nevertheless, the French managed to beat Norway in the final minutes. Suddenly they were only four goals behind. TOUGH DUELS: Camilla Herrem in a duel with French Laura Flippes. Photo: Reuters But Oftedal was hungry for gold, and sent Norway into a 25-20 lead with five minutes remaining. Lunde also contributed with two saves in the match, and Norway continued to increase the lead. In the end, they crushed the host nation 29–21. – What a fantastic way to end a handball career and a national team career. – There are many players here who probably do not want to play another Olympics. It is absolutely incredible that you get to experience an Olympic gold, in what was probably the last opportunity for six or seven of the players. It’s a story that couldn’t be written better, said Gjekstad on Max. FINALLY: – A fantastic way to end a handball career and a national team career, commented Gjekstad. Photo: BILDBYRÅN – Sad Before the final, news met an excited family who had come to Lille to cheer Oftedal on in her last international match. – It is 25 years of joy, which will hopefully be even more joy in the next era. But it is clear that it is sad, said a touched father Svein Oftedal to news. PROUD FAMILY: Oftedal’s family was there in Lille to cheer her on to gold. Photo: news Sister and former handball pro Hanna Bredal Oftedal was excited on her older sister’s behalf: – There is something special when it is the last game and such a backdrop as it is today. If you manage to top your career with this – even if it’s not Olympic gold too – then it’s absolutely fantastic. But she hoped and believed in a Norwegian victory. – I think there are a lot of strange feelings, but I hope she manages to enjoy it and be happy, and win the Olympic gold first and foremost, smiles the sister. GOOD ATMOSPHERE: It was a packed arena in Lille with 26,664 spectators. Photo: AFP Published 10.08.2024, at 16.27 Updated 10.08.2024, at 19.08
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Norwegian Olympic gold after a show of strength – Olympic Games Paris 2024
