Like mother, like daughter: Germany counting on talented Emily Bölk

At the age of 16, she became MVP of the Women’s Youth World Championship after leading Germany to the final and the silver medal. At 18, she played her first Women’s EHF EURO event in Sweden. At 19, she had the great opportunity to play the World Championship on home ground but she twisted her ankle right before the start. At 20, she had her debut in the EHF Champions League.

Now Emily Bölk hopes to make the next step with the German national team at the EHF EURO 2018 in France.

“A great talent with huge potential”

“Emmy is a great talent with a huge potential for the next years,” says Henk Groener, the Dutch-born Germany coach. “She is highly ambitious, trains more than the rest and will have a bright, bright future, if she remains without major injuries.”

When the first Women’s EHF EURO was held in Germany 24 years ago, Emily’s mother Andrea was part of the hosts’ team which earned silver, after losing the final against Denmark, still Germany’s only medal at European Championships.

One year earlier, Andrea Bölk was a key player of the first unified German team in women’s handball, which celebrated its biggest success by becoming world champions in Oslo, Norway. Also, Emily’s father and grandmother were handball stars.

No wonder Bölk has handball in her genes. At the age of 14, she made it to Denmark, joining the Viborg handball academy. Since then, the only way has been up. Bölk had her Bundesliga debut at the age of 16 for Buxtehuder SV. In the summer of 2018 she joined German champions Thüringer HC.

“There is no player who trains and works harder than Emily. It is our common plan to make one of the world’s best players out of her,” says THC coach Herbert Müller. “We are all proud to guide her on her way and to provide her with more experience.”

One main reason for joining the German champions was the opportunity to play in the EHF Champions League. It has become a bitter experience for Bölk as THC started with four straight defeats, though a win at Podravka Vegeta in Round 5 kept the main round dreams alive.

“She learnt it the hard way what it means to face the best players of the world, to feel the difference to the Bundesliga,” Müller says. “Last Sunday was a big relief to her as we won in Koprivnica and still have the chance to proceed to the main round.”

“Emily has everything to be a global top star”

Müller believes Bölk’s EHF Champions League experiences can be a boost for her at the EHF EURO in France.

“Emmy has everything you need to be a global top star: Very efficient at long-range shots, strong in one-against-one situations, solid in defence, a great fighting spirit and a huge confidence,” the coach says. “The only thing she still needs is more experience, but she will gain this. We all have to keep in mind that she is just 20.”

On the left back position, Bölk face fierce competition in the national team from Metz Handball’s Xenia Smits.

“You are a lucky coach if you have a choice like this,” says Groener. Like her club coach Müller, he praises the fact that “Emily is always taking the responsibility, which is unusual at this age. You normally do not have players aged 20, who already are key players at a Champions League club.”

For Groener, it will be interesting to see how young players such as Bölk, Alicia Stolle and Dinah Eckerle will live up to their new roles in the rejuvenated national team.

“They have played at major events before but now they are the ones we expect to go ahead of the even younger players. I am sure that Emily can impress at the EURO in France and will make another step,” Groener says.

In the preliminary round, Germany have to overcome high hurdles with Norway, Romania and the Czech Republic as the opponents in Group D in Brest. The first goal for Bölk & Co. is to proceed to the main round in Nancy.

If Germany succeed, Emily Bölk can maybe live her dream in France and already step into her mother’s shoes.