Hammerseng wants a shot at the FINAL4

At the age of 34, Gro Hammerseng-Edin has achieved more than most handball players do, but still she feels that she needs one certain experience, before she can end her career. 

EHF EURO 2004, 2006 and 2008 champion. Olympic gold medalist 2008. Awarded Most Valuable Player at the EHF EURO 2004 and 2006. Winner of the Women´s EHF Champions League 2011. 

These are just the most remarkable achievements in Gro Hammerseng-Edin´s long and glorious career. 

However, there is still one thing she really hopes to experience before ending her career. 

She wants to play in the MVM EHF FINAL4. 

Already at an early stage in the main round of the Women's EHF Champions League this season, if became a fact that her club, Larvik would not qualify for the event which is being played in the women´s tournament for the first time this year, in Budapest on 3 and 4 May.  

“I think it is an exciting idea. I do not know what it will be like, as I will not be there this year, but I am really motivated to fight for a place there in future. That is something I really want to try,” Gro Hammerseng-Edin tells ehfCL.com. 

One title so far 

So far, she and Larvik have won the Women´s EHF Champions League once. In the 2010/11 season, the Norwegian record champions lifted the trophy after two tight final matches against Itxako Reyno De Navarra from Spain. 

In the first match, on 7 May 2011, 4,500 spectators in the Arena Larvik saw Larvik win 23:21 after a Spanish 9:8 lead at half-time. 

In the return match one week later, 3,500 people in the Pabellon Anaitasuna in Pamplona saw Larvik leading 11:10 at half-time, but Ixako winning 25:24 which was not enough for the hosts, though, due to Larvik´s two-goal win at home. 

“We had a good team with the ability to perform when necessary and we stood together on the court. We made each other good and at the same we had some individual players who could perform at an extraordinary level when it was important,” these are the factors Hammerseng-Edin mentions when asked to explain the triumph three years ago. 

She ended her career in the national team with the gold medal at the EHF EURO 2010 in Denmark and Norway in December 2010, having played 167 internationals and scored impressive 631 goals for her country. 

Since then, the 180 cm tall playmaker and left back has been focusing on club handball with Larvik, and even though her own team is out of Europe this season, she still follows the competition closely – and she is impressed by what she sees. 

“There are so many good players, so many who have impressed me and many who have inspired me. 

“If I am to mention one in particular, it must be (Eduarda) Amorim. She is really brilliant, and it is cool that she is so good at both ends of the court. 

“When it comes to pointing out a favourite, I would bet on Györ Audi ETO KC. Anyway, they are the best team we have met this season,” finds Gro Hammerseng-Edin. 

Looking two years ahead 

Having reached the age of 34, it would only be natural, if she had started to think of when to end her career. 

So far, however, retirement does not seem to be close. 

“At first I am looking two years ahead, and then I will make a new assessment when that time comes. 

“It would probably not be correct to say that I expect to win the Champions League again, but I definitely see it as possible and I am really motivated to fight for a place in the FINAL4," she concludes.