World champion from Denmark: Füchse player Gidsel is a world handball player

As of: March 22, 2024 12:55 p.m

World champion Mathias Gidsel from Füchse Berlin has been voted World Handball Player of the Year 2023. The Dane prevailed over Germany’s national goalkeeper Andreas Wolff and France’s European champion Ludovic Fabregas, as the International Handball Federation (IHF) announced.

In the women’s category, Norwegian Henny Reistad won the coveted award. In addition to the fans and national coaches, an IHF commission for coaching and methodology was also allowed to vote.

Gidsel has been showing impressive performances for years. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the backcourt player was named player of the tournament and scored the most goals.

At the 2023 World Cup, the 25-year-old was Denmark’s key player on the way to the title. At club level, Gidsel has played a crucial role in the outstanding run of success for the Bundesliga leaders from Berlin this season.

Young handball players also honored

For the first time, the world association also honored the best young handball players. Two German national players were nominated for the men: Nils Lichtlein and Juri Knorr.

For women, DHB hope Viola Leuchter was on the shortlist. However, the Faroese national hero Elias Ellefsen á Skipagøtu from THW Kiel and Lena Grandveau (Neptunes de Nantes) won the prize.