Women Who changed the Game: The Untold Story of Women‘s Handball

From exclusion and prejudice to Olympic glory — the remarkable journey of women‘s handball.

The History of the Origins of Handball

The history of handball dates back to ancient times. A game involving “throwing a ball into a gate” was mentioned both in Homer’s “Odyssey” and in the works of the ancient Roman physician Claudius Galen. In ancient Rome, this game was even known as “expulsim ludere”. The famous German-Austrian poet Walther von der Vogelweide also took an interest in this game, dedicating poems to it.

However, the handball we know today did not take shape until the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. For example, in the Czech Republic, a popular version of the ball game gained widespread popularity in 1890 and was even given the unofficial name “hazena.”

Now let’s fast-forward to 1898 in the picturesque Copenhagen suburb of Ordrup. It was here that physical education teacher Holger Nielsen introduced a ball game called “haandbold” (“haand” meaning “hand” and “bold” meaning “ball”), in which teams of seven competed on a small field, passing the ball to one another and aiming to score a goal.

Nearly twenty years later in 1917 Berlin native Max Heiser combined the best features of the two aforementioned games, thereby creating handball, whose rules evolved over the next few years.

Handball was recognized as an international sport and began to spread widely as early as 1926, but competitions (primarily among men’s teams) had been held much earlier.

The Beginnings of Women’s Handball

The first national handball championship for men’s teams took place in 1920 in Berlin for the German Cup and Championship. Men’s handball teams were admitted to official international competitions in 1925. Meanwhile, it took five years for women’s teams to participate in their first international competition, which took place in 1930 between the German and Austrian national teams.

The circumstances for women’s teams were also not ideal at the World Championships. In 1938, the first official World Handball Championship was held in Berlin. This championship was no exception, allowing only men’s teams to participate.

The irony of history is that a sport created for women’s physical education became almost exclusively male-dominated several decades later. Women’s teams only managed to qualify for the World Championships nineteen years later.

However, in the 20th century, this was rather commonplace: women were not allowed to play handball, as they were in many other team sports, due to conservative gender stereotypes. Sports were considered an exclusively male preserve, and active games involving physical contact were considered “too dangerous” and incompatible with the traditional female role of mother and housewife. To preserve the entrenched image of the “weaker and graceful sex,” women were barred from participating in their favorite sport, with the rationale being that intense physical exertion, jumping, and competitive aggression were harmful to the female body and reproductive health.

Today, such arguments sound absurd, but they determined the fates of thousands of athletes for decades.

1957 marked a turning point in the history of women’s handball, as the first-ever World Championship for women’s teams was held in Yugoslavia.

For modern fans, this seems like a natural stage in the development of the sport. But for the athletes of that time, the mere fact of reaching the international arena was already a victory.

The Czechoslovakian team won the gold medal, thereby inspiring thousands of women to new achievements. The USSR and East German teams remained the main favorites and rivals until 1990, repeatedly demonstrating brilliant tactics and incredible agility.

Yugoslavia 1957: Czechoslovakia enter history with a bang

The Olympic Revolution

However, the obstacles did not end there. The women’s teams’ path to Olympic participation was even more arduous. Men’s teams first competed in the Olympics in 1936. After years of breaking one patriarchal rule after another, the women’s teams achieved their goal, earning their Olympic debut in 1976. The USSR team won the women’s handball title at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The Soviet handball team achieved a historic triumph, winning all five matches; silver went to Germany, and bronze to Hungary.

Vintage photo of Members of the Soviet handball team raise their teammates in the air — Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976

For women’s teams, having overcome numerous difficulties and prejudices, the end of the 20th century became an era of global transformation in women’s handball. The game smoothly transitioned from physical tactics to a more dynamic game, and a system of quick counterattacks was updated, making matches more exciting and dynamic. On the international stage, the leaders have changed: the dominance of the Soviet School has given way to the triumph of Scandinavian and Southern European teams.

Women’s National Teams That Made History

The beginning of the 21st century was a period of rapid growth in women’s handball. This was due to the game becoming faster, more powerful, and more tactically diverse. European teams were practically constantly on the podium.

The Danish national team was the clear favorite, winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals (1996, 2000, 2004), creating a sensation, as even men’s teams had never achieved such a feat. However, Denmark failed to achieve a fourth consecutive gold medal.

The Danish national team (1996 Olympic)

Norway won the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. They repeated this success by taking first place at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The Norwegian women’s handball team cemented its place in national history by winning two consecutive Olympic gold medals. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Norway became Olympic champions for the third time, thus confirming its unprecedented status as champions.

Norway won the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

The World Women’s Handball Championships were no less spectacular and had their favorites. For example, the Russian team became a dominant force at world championships from 2000 to 2010, winning gold medals at the 2001 (Italy), 2005 (Russia), 2007 (France), and 2009 (China) World Championships.

However, since the 2010s, Norway, Brazil, the Netherlands, and France have taken over the World Championship crown. The Norwegian team has won four gold and two silver medals, time and again proving its undisputed status as champions and formidable opponents.

Legends of Women’s Handball (20th Century)

Women’s handball has given us not only a rich history and spectacular competitions, but also a huge number of talented athletes who have proven time and time again that a woman’s spirit is unbreakable.

One such athlete is Svetlana Kitić, an outstanding Bosnian-Serbian athlete who once competed for Yugoslavia and later for Bosnia and Herzegovina. During her nearly 33-year athletic career (with breaks), Svetlana and her team won a silver medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and four years later, at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she and her team won gold. Her iron will, her exquisite technique, and her famous, powerful long-range shot have forever etched her into history as one of the most gifted athletes in the world. The official title of “Best Female Handball Player Ever” was awarded to Svetlana Kitić in 2010 by the International Handball Federation (IHF) following a worldwide vote, where she garnered a record 84.1% of the votes.

Svetlana Kitić

Another handball legend is Zinaida Turchyna, who played for the USSR national team. This outstanding Ukrainian athlete was recognized by the International Handball Federation (IHF) as the “Best Handball Player of the 20th Century.” Zinaida Turchyna is a two-time Olympic champion and multiple world champion. She was one of the pioneers of women’s handball, serving for many years as the “brain” behind the undefeated Spartak Kyiv and the Soviet national team.

Zinaida Turchyna

The 20th century was rich in talented female handball players, one of whom is Danish handball legend Anja Andersen. This legendary player was once the leading figure in Danish handball in the 1990s. The 1996 Olympic champion, world champion, and two-time European champion earned the nickname “Iron Lady” for her unwavering character. One of the most gifted handball players in history, she was renowned not only for her brilliant technique and striking attacking style, but also for her emotional and controversial personality on the court. Recognized as the best female handball player in the world in 1997 by the IHF, Anja Andersen forever etched her name in the history of world sport.

Anja Andersen

Each of these athletes achieved fame in her own way. But they all had one thing in common: they changed the perception of what women’s sport could be.

The conservative views of the 20th century failed to stop the popularization and growth of women’s handball. And this is largely thanks to the women who were unafraid to challenge outdated traditions.

Legends of Women’s Handball (21st Century)

The new stars of 21st-century handball continued the legacy of their predecessors and took handball to a new level. Women’s handball in the 21st century became faster, more athletic, and tactically sophisticated, where European teams flourished, with Norway as the undisputed leader.

One of the most decorated players on the Norwegian women’s handball team was Heidi Løke. Known for her phenomenal endurance and aggressive play on the line, she won Olympic gold (2012), became a two-time world champion (2011, 2015), and a three-time European champion.

Heidi Løke

The land of the Vikings was rich in talent, one of whom was Nora Mørk. Having overcome numerous challenges, from health issues (she underwent more than nine complex knee surgeries during her career) to difficulties in her personal life, Nora Mørk never gave up. Each time, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, she returned to her peak form and won the gold.

Nora Mørk

Katrin Lunde, considered one of the most prolific goalkeepers and outstanding athletes in history, was no exception. A national team record-holder for most matches played (over 360 in total), a three-time Olympic champion (2008, 2012, 2024), and the only seven-time European champion in history, Katrin Lunde has become an idol for millions of fans around the world, proving time and again that nothing is impossible.

Katrin Lunde

The Fight for Choice

Unfortunately, women’s handball has not escaped controversy. Millions of women around the world face sexualization on a daily basis, and the women’s handball team has not escaped this fate.

One egregious incident occurred in the summer of 2021 at the European Beach Handball Championships, during the third-place match between Spain and Norway. The Norwegian team, contrary to established rules, refused to compete in bikinis. They knew they would face sanctions, but they took the risk and played in shorts anyway. The team was fined €1,500. This incident sparked a wave of public outrage that raged for a long time.

Ultimately, the European Handball Federation (EHF) was forced to relent and donate the money to a charity that advocates for the rights of women and girls in sport. The Norwegian team’s courage and unwillingness to be seen as a “spectacle” finally led to a rule revision. The IHF changed the uniform requirements for female athletes. Now, women’s beach handball teams are no longer required to wear bikinis during games. They are allowed to wear shorts and long tops instead of crop tops. However, this didn’t completely satisfy some dissatisfied players. The issue is that women’s uniforms must be form-fitting, while men’s teams are allowed to compete in looser-fitting gear. However, even this rule revision is an unequivocal victory, acknowledged even by the Norwegian handball players.

European Beach Handball Championship 2021

Sometimes a single bold decision by female athletes can change history more than decades of negotiations. The Norwegian team’s victory wasn’t just about changing their uniforms. Their victory proved that female athletes can influence the rules of the game not only on the court but also off it.

Conclusion

Throughout human history, women have been subjected to oppression and sexualization; yet time and again, overcoming every obstacle, they have demonstrated their refusal to obey.

Do you think the history of women’s handball is a story of matches and championships?

No. In fact, it is the story of women who step by step expanded the boundaries of what is possible.

The history of women’s handball is one of many stories that tell of the overcoming and fortitude of the bravest women.