Stand: 12.08.2021| Reading time: 2 minutes
One of the best German handball players is breaking up: Uwe Gensheimer is saying goodbye to the German selection at the age of 34. He remains Uwe, the unfinished.
Kapitän Uwe Gensheimer has announced his resignation from the national handball team after the disappointing Olympic tournament. In addition, national coach Alfred Gislason will have to do without other veterans in the future, as the German Handball Federation (DHB) announced on Thursday.
In addition to Gensheimer, backcourt player Steffen Weinhold (THW Kiel) is no longer available, defense chief Hendrik Pekeler (THW Kiel) wants to take a longer break from the national team and leaves future missions for the DHB selection open. Goalkeeper oldie Johannes Bitter (HSV Hamburg) only wants to step in in an emergency after missing the Olympic medal in Japan.
“Faces of our sport”
“I look back with pride and gratitude on a long time at the German Handball Federation and I will never forget the experiences that came with it,” said Gensheimer. DHB President Andreas Michelmann thanked all players. “All four are faces of our sport, have excited the audience and motivated many children,” he said.
The national team is facing a personnel change. The 34-year-old from Gensheim last played only a minor role at the tournament in Tokyo, but before that he was one of the pillars of the team.
After his international debut in November 2005, he celebrated his greatest success in the DHB jersey in 2016 when he won bronze with the team at the Olympics in Rio. However, he was denied the whole big title both in the club and in the national team.
For Gislason, the loss of world-class defender Pekeler (30) and backcourt specialist Weinhold (35) weighs heavier than the departure of the captain. The now 38-year-old Bitter is still one of the best German goalkeepers.
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