Nikola KarabaticAged 24 the Frenchman already gained a multitude of titles and now is presented with the World Handball Player of the Year award. In 2005 he moved from HB Montpellier to Kiel after having won four national titles, the cup title and the 2003 Champions League with the French club.
With THW Kiel he continued collecting one title after the other, grabbed the 2007 Champions League crown, reached the 2008 final (defeat against Ciudad Real) and earned three German championship titles and two cup titles up to now. Karabatic, who was elected Germany's handball player of the year and who earned a second player-of-the-season award this year, is considered to be the world's most complete player by many experts, as he does not only pose a threat to the goal but also plays an important role in defence.
The international handball scene also appreciated his performances on international stage: When he earned the bronze medal with the French team at the 2008 European Championship, he was awarded the honour as most valuable player of the tournament. Karabatic earned a place in the All-Star Team at the 2007 World Championship (similar to the 2004 European championship and the 2005 WCh) when France came off fourth. The 2006 European champion title has been his major achievement so far but ‘Kara' is striving for more and focusing on a medal at the Beijing Olympics, just according to his credo "I am never tired of longing for success."
Gro HammersengSuch as her male counterpart Nikola Karabatic, the Norwegian is hardly being left out when it comes to composing the All-Star Team of major international tournaments. Like the Frenchman she was named the most valuable player of the European championships in 2004 and 2006 when she led her side to gain two ECh titles. Moreover the speedy and goal-threatening back-court player grabbed two WCh silver medals (2001 and 2007) and became Vice-European Champion in 2002. Hammerseng together with her Norwegian teammate Katja Nyberg is playing with the colours of Danish top club Ikast Bording, becoming runners-up of this year's national championship and gaining the 2004 European Cup.
Hammerseng represents the typical powerful and fast Norwegian handball crowned with success, her play poses a threat to the goal but she has always an eye for her teammates, too, to thus provide a main support for the Norwegian defence. Hammerseng has been the team captain of the Norwegian squad, she is a real playmaker of coach Marit Breivik's team. Her crucial position in the team was proved at the 2005 WCh in Russia when Hammerseng was sidelined due to injury and Norway did not climb the rostrum. As her team failed to qualify for the 2004 Games, Hammerseng is now keen to cruise to great victory at the Olympics (her first participation under the five rings) and to lead her team to gold.
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