Wikipedia

Denmark women's national handball team

The Denmark women's national handball team is the national team of Denmark. It is governed by the Danish Handball Federation (DHF).

Denmark Denmark
Information
NicknameHåndboldkvinderne
(The handball women)
AssociationDanish Handball Federation
CoachHelle Thomsen
Assistant coachBojana Popović
CaptainTrine Østergaard
Anne Mette Hansen
Anna Kristensen
Mie Højlund
Most capsJanne Kolling (250)
Most goalsCamilla Andersen (846)
Colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
1st
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
2nd
Results
Summer Olympics
Appearances5 (First in 1996)
Best result‹See Tfd›Gold medal – World 1st (1996, 2000, 2004)
World Championship
Appearances23 (First in 1957)
Best result‹See Tfd›Gold medal – World 1st (1997)
European Championship
Appearances16 (First in 1994)
Best result‹See Tfd›Gold medal – World 1st (1994, 1996, 2002)
Last updated on Unknown.
Denmark women's national handball team
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1996 AtlantaTeam
Gold medal – first place2000 SydneyTeam
Gold medal – first place2004 AthensTeam
Bronze medal – third place2024 ParisTeam
World Championship
Gold medal – first place1997 Germany
Silver medal – second place1962 Romania
Silver medal – second place1993 Norway
Bronze medal – third place1995 Austria/Hungary
Bronze medal – third place2013 Serbia
Bronze medal – third place2021 Spain
Bronze medal – third place2023 Denmark/Norway/Sweden
European Championship
Gold medal – first place1994 Germany
Gold medal – first place1996 Denmark
Gold medal – first place2002 Denmark
Silver medal – second place1998 Netherlands
Silver medal – second place2004 Hungary
Silver medal – second place2022 Slovenia/Montenegro/North Macedonia
Silver medal – second place2024 Austria/Hungary/Switzerland

In 1997, it became the first Women's Handball team to hold all three major titles simultaneously (The World Championship, The Olympic Championship and The European Championship).[1]

Denmark women's handball team is the only team (women's and men's) in handball history to win the Olympic Games three consecutive times, earning the gold medal in 1996, 2000, and 2004.

Despite tremendous results, the Danish handball team has seen a steady decline. As of 2026, the team has not won a gold medal since the Olympic Games 2004. However, at the World Championship 2013, the team won its first medal (bronze) at a World Championship since 1997 when the team won gold.[2] It was also the first medal the Danish team had won in 9 years.

Since 2021, the team has won medals at five championships in a row: Bronze at the 2021 World Championship, silver at the 2022 European Championship, bronze at the 2023 World Championship, bronze at 2024 Summer Olympics and silver at the 2024 European Championship. At the 2025 World Championship, Denmark was knocked out in the quarter final, marking the first time since 2021 that Denmark left a major international tournament without any medals.[3]

Honours

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Competition1st place, gold medalist(s)2nd place, silver medalist(s)3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Total
Olympic Games 3014
World Championship 1247
European Championship 3407
Total76518

Competitive record

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  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place  

Olympic Games

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Games Position Pld W D L GF GA GD
Canada 1976 MontrealDid not qualify
Soviet Union 1980 Moscow
United States 1984 Los Angeles
South Korea 1988 Seoul
Spain 1992 Barcelona
United States 1996 Atlanta1st5500149114+35
Australia 2000 Sydney1st7601214165+49
Greece 2004 Athens1st7520224182+42
China 2008 BeijingDid not qualify
United Kingdom 2012 London9th5104113121−8
Brazil 2016 Rio de JaneiroDid not qualify
Japan 2020 Tokyo
France 2024 Paris3rd8602206191+15
United States 2028 Los AngelesTBD
Total5/14322327906773+133

World Championship

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Year Position Pld W D L GS GA ±
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 19575th53113726+11
Romania 19622nd54014228+14
West Germany 19655th42023136−5
Netherlands 19716th52125054−4
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 19737th52215747+10
Soviet Union 19759th51046269−7
Czechoslovakia 1978Did not qualify
Hungary 1982
Netherlands 1986
South Korea 199010th7205145137+8
Norway 19932nd7502189167+22
AustriaHungary 19953rd8602221178+43
Germany 19971st9711281202+79
DenmarkNorway 19996th9702263186+77
Italy 20014th9702258210+48
Croatia 200313th5212113119−6
Russia 20054th10514295277+18
France 2007Did not qualify
China 20095th9603250230+20
Brazil 20114th9702240175+65
Serbia 20133rd9603255214+41
Denmark 20156th9504239208+31
Germany 20176th7403186163+23
Japan 20199th8422204172+32
Spain 20213rd9801281182+99
DenmarkNorwaySweden 20233rd9702280212+68
GermanyNetherlands 20255th7601240181+59
Hungary 2027TBD
Spain 2029
Czech RepublicPoland 2031
Total23/2816210295139793292+687

European Championship

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Year Position Pld W D L GS GA ±
Germany 19941st7700186151+35
Denmark 19961st7700197146+51
Netherlands 19982nd7502189163+26
Romania 200010th6114151159−8
Denmark 20021st8800200171+29
Hungary 20042nd8602202189+13
Sweden 200611th6204148156−8
North Macedonia 200811th6213145160−15
DenmarkNorway 20104th8503192175+17
Serbia 20125th7502217206+11
HungaryCroatia 20148th6312155147+8
Sweden 20164th8413189185+4
France 20188th6303151164−13
Denmark 20204th8503209186+23
SloveniaNorth MacedoniaMontenegro 20222nd8602223195+28
AustriaHungarySwitzerland 20242nd9702266234+32
Czech RepublicPolandRomaniaSlovakiaTurkey 2026Qualified
DenmarkNorwaySweden 2028Qualified as co-host
BelgiumFrance 2030To be determined
DenmarkGermanyPoland 2032Qualified as co-host
Total18/201157643530202787+233

Performance in other tournaments

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Team

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Current squad

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The squad chosen for EHF Euro Cup in April 2026.[5][6]

Head coach: Helle Thomsen

Caps and goals as of 12 April 2026.

No. Pos. Name Date of birth (age) Height App. Goals Club
2 CB Stine Nørklit Lønborg (1998-12-21) 21 December 1998 (age 27) 1.70 m 4 7 France JDA Dijon Handball
6 CB Helena Elver (1998-03-01) 1 March 1998 (age 28) 1.75 m 58 139 Hungary Győri ETO KC
7 P Ida-Marie Dahl (1998-03-19) 19 March 1998 (age 28) 1.74 m 14 14 Hungary Győri ETO KC
8 LB Anne Mette Hansen (c) (1994-08-25) 25 August 1994 (age 31) 1.82 m 205 602 Romania CSM București
10 P Kathrine Heindahl (1992-03-26) 26 March 1992 (age 34) 1.82 m 146 281 Denmark Team Esbjerg
11 LB Line Haugsted (1994-11-11) 11 November 1994 (age 31) 1.80 m 130 155 Denmark Team Esbjerg
12 GK Anna Kristensen (c) (2000-10-25) 25 October 2000 (age 25) 1.84 m 62 0 Denmark Team Esbjerg
23 CB Kristina Jørgensen (1998-01-17) 17 January 1998 (age 28) 1.87 m 153 467 Hungary Győri ETO KC
25 RW Trine Østergaard (c) (1991-10-17) 17 October 1991 (age 34) 1.66 m 220 454 Romania CSM București
26 LB Stine Eiberg (1998-11-25) 25 November 1998 (age 27) 1.83 m 20 6 Denmark Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub
28 LB Laura Borg (2004-02-21) 21 February 2004 (age 22) 1.87 m 20 7 Denmark Viborg HK
29 RB Clara Bang (2004-04-30) 30 April 2004 (age 22) 1.76 m 9 12 Denmark Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub
31 CB Simone Petersen (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 (age 28) 1.75 m 60 93 Denmark Viborg HK
32 LB Mie Højlund (c) (1997-10-24) 24 October 1997 (age 28) 1.80 m 127 269 Denmark Odense Håndbold
33 LW Emma Friis (1999-10-31) 31 October 1999 (age 26) 1.62 m 96 274 Romania CSM București
35 P Nanna Hinnerfeldt (1999-06-11) 11 June 1999 (age 27) 1.72 m 17 24 Denmark Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub
39 RW Line Mai Hougaard (1999-10-06) 6 October 1999 (age 26) 1.62 m 11 21 Denmark Ikast Håndbold
40 GK Amalie Milling (1999-12-27) 27 December 1999 (age 26) 1.74 m 29 0 Denmark Ikast Håndbold
41 LW Elma Halilcevic (2000-06-18) 18 June 2000 (age 26) 1.68 m 56 141 Denmark Odense Håndbold
42 CB Michala Møller (2000-02-16) 16 February 2000 (age 26) 1.78 m 61 125 Denmark Team Esbjerg
43 LW Emilie Ytting (1999-08-02) 2 August 1999 (age 26) 1.76 m 5 5 Denmark København Håndbold
44 RW Cecilie Brandt (2001-11-16) 16 November 2001 (age 24) 1.69 m 24 44 Denmark Ikast Håndbold
45 LB Julie Scaglione (2004-08-20) 20 August 2004 (age 21) 1.83 m 30 96 Denmark Ikast Håndbold
50 GK Anne Christine Bossen (2003-10-14) 14 October 2003 (age 22) 1.76 m 2 0 Denmark Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub
P Boline Laursen (2005-09-13) 13 September 2005 (age 20) 1.89 m 0 0 Denmark Silkeborg-Voel KFUM

Extended squad / recent call-ups

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No. Pos. Name Date of birth (age) Height App. Goals Club
1 GK Sandra Toft (1989-10-18) 18 October 1989 (age 36) 1.74 m 195 2 Hungary Győri ETO KC
2 LW Lærke Nolsøe (1996-02-19) 19 February 1996 (age 30) 1.69 m 63 135 Denmark Ikast Håndbold
3 P Kaja Kamp (1994-04-29) 29 April 1994 (age 32) 1.72 m 27 43 Germany Borussia Dortmund Handball
4 RB Helene Kindberg (1998-01-13) 13 January 1998 (age 28) 1.79 m 26 41 Denmark Team Esbjerg
5 P Sarah Iversen (1990-04-10) 10 April 1990 (age 36) 1.77 m 110 184 Denmark Ikast Håndbold
13 RW Simone Böhme (1991-08-17) 17 August 1991 (age 34) 1.69 m 51 56 Romania HC Dunărea Brăila
14 CB Mai Kragballe (1997-12-15) 15 December 1997 (age 28) 1.72 m 0 0 Denmark Silkeborg-Voel KFUM
15 P Sofie Bardrum (1996-04-03) 3 April 1996 (age 30) 1.75 m 13 37 Slovenia RK Krim
16 GK Althea Reinhardt (1996-09-01) 1 September 1996 (age 29) 1.80 m 131 0 Denmark Odense Håndbold
17 LB Cecilie Bjerre (2001-07-08) 8 July 2001 (age 24) 1.87 m 0 0 Denmark Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub
18 RB Mette Tranborg (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 30) 1.92 m 130 283 Hungary Ferencvárosi TC
19 P Sara Hald (1996-06-04) 4 June 1996 (age 30) 1.75 m 0 0 Denmark Viborg HK
21 RW Andrea Aagot (2000-05-22) 22 May 2000 (age 26) 1.78 m 66 141 Denmark Odense Håndbold
22 CB Mathilde Neesgaard (1993-04-02) 2 April 1993 (age 33) 1.70 m 3 0 Denmark HH Elite
27 RB Louise Burgaard (1992-10-17) 17 October 1992 (age 33) 1.76 m 183 379 Denmark Odense Håndbold
30 GK Louise Bak (2001-10-02) 2 October 2001 (age 24) 1.80 m 1 0 Denmark Viborg HK
34 P Rikke Iversen (1993-05-18) 18 May 1993 (age 33) 1.78 m 101 155 Denmark Team Esbjerg
36 LW Anna Grundtvig (1995-09-27) 27 September 1995 (age 30) 1.69 m 3 10 Denmark Odense Håndbold
37 LB Sarah Paulsen (1997-08-27) 27 August 1997 (age 28) 1.72 m 12 18 Denmark SønderjyskE
38 P Maria Lykkegaard (1996-02-27) 27 February 1996 (age 30) 1.76 m 4 4 Romania SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea
38 P Karen Klokker (2002-02-15) 15 February 2002 (age 24) 1.85 m 3 1 Denmark Ikast Håndbold
43 LB Olivia Simonsen (2000-08-14) 14 August 2000 (age 25) 1.85 m 3 0 Denmark SønderjyskE
46 RB Anne With Johansen (2004-04-22) 22 April 2004 (age 22) 1.72 m 3 4 Slovenia RK Krim
LB Line Berggren Larsen (1998-10-30) 30 October 1998 (age 27) 1.73 m 0 0 Denmark København Håndbold
LB Alberte Hovgaard Hansen (2004-12-10) 10 December 2004 (age 21) 1.70 m 0 0 Denmark København Håndbold
RW Clara Skøtt (2002-12-25) 25 December 2002 (age 23) 1.74 m 0 0 Denmark Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub

Previous squads

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Notable players

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Several Danish players have seen their individual performance recognized at international tournaments, either as Most Valuable Player or as a member of the All-Star Team.

MVP
All-Star Team

Incomplete

Coaching staff

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RoleNameStart date
Head coach Denmark Helle Thomsen July 2025
Assistant coach Montenegro Bojana Popović September 2025
Team manager Denmark Tina Bøttzau March 2024
Goalkeeping coach Denmark Michael Bruun Unknown
Physiotherapist Denmark Mikkel Hjuler February 2016
Video man Denmark Sten Kaj Larsen March 2020
Body SDS Denmark Erling Andersen Unknown

Coaches

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List of coaches for Denmark women's national handball team[7]
YearsName
1946–1958Knud Knudsen
1959–1963Jørgen Absalonsen
1963–1965Else Birkmose
1965–1968Knud Knudsen
1969–1976Hans Erik Nielsen
1976–1980Allan Lund
1980–1981Jørgen Andersson
1982–1985Flemming Skovsen
1986–1990Ole Eliasen
1991–1998Ulrik Wilbek
1998–2006Jan Pytlick
2006–2007Brian Lyngholm
2007–2014Jan Pytlick
2014–2015Heine Eriksen
2015–2020Klavs Bruun Jørgensen
2020–2025Jesper Jensen
2025–Helle Thomsen

Individual records

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  Still active national team players are highlighted

References

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  1. ↑ International Handball Federation
  2. ↑ "Pytlicks VM-forbandelse brudt: Bronze til Danmark" (in Danish). B.T. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  3. ↑ "Thomsen gentager pointe om dansk niveau – ekspert køber den ikke helt" (in Danish). TV2. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "Møbelringen Cup 2005" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Handball Federation. Archived from the original on 10 December 2005. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  5. ↑ "Helle Thomsen klar med truppen til kampene mod Tjekkiet og Tyrkiet". Dansk Håndbold. 23 March 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "Kathrine Heindahl er tilbage på landsholdet". Dansk Håndbold. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "DAME-A LANDSTRÆNERE GENNEM ÅRENE". DHF. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Statistics (select Spiller køn=Kvinde)". haandbold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
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