Mikel Hansen, a standout handball player from Denmark and a three-time world champion, announced today that he will retire from professional play after the Olympic Games in Paris.

“This summer feels like the right moment to step back from the sport while I’m fully invested in my current pursuits,” stated Hansen, age 36, during a press conference.

“I still have plenty of motivation. The season is ongoing, and there’s a lot left to achieve. I’m excited about the upcoming months and aim to make the most of them,” he remarked.

Recognized as the best handball player in the world three times (2011, 2015, and 2018), he noted that he had the potential to keep playing.

“If I truly desired it, I could likely extend my career until 40 or even 45, but that’s not who I am,” Hansen explained.

Throughout his career with the Danish national team, Hansen has claimed the European Championship title in 2012, the Olympic gold in 2016, and celebrated three world championships in 2019, 2021, and 2023.

He has netted 266 goals in 1,350 appearances for Denmark, including 296 goals at the European Championship, making him the all-time leading scorer of the tournament.

At the club level, after spending a decade with Paris Saint-Germain, Hansen returned to his roots in Denmark in the summer of 2022, now playing for Aalborg.

News