Mikel Hansen, the celebrated Danish handball player and three-time world champion, announced today that he plans to retire from professional play following the Olympic Games in Paris.

“This summer feels like the perfect moment to retire from my playing career while I remain fully committed,” said Hansen, 36, during a press conference.

“I still have the drive to compete. The season is ongoing, and there’s much left to achieve. I’m excited about the upcoming months and intend to make the most of them,” he continued.

Hansen, who has been named the world’s best handball player three times (2011, 2015, and 2018), indicated that he has the capability to continue his career.

“If I truly wanted to, I could likely extend my career until I’m 40 or even 45, but that’s not who I am,” Hansen remarked.

During his time with the Danish national team, Mikel Hansen won the European Championship in 2012, clinched an Olympic gold medal in 2016, and was crowned world champion in 2019, 2021, and 2023.

He has netted 266 goals in 1,350 matches for Denmark, with 296 goals scored in the European Championship, making him the all-time top scorer of the tournament.

On the club scene, after a decade with Paris Saint-Germain, Hansen made a return to Denmark in the summer of 2022, where he currently plays for Aalborg.

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