DPA
Paris
Three-time and reigning world champions Denmark overpowered Germany to win the men’s handball gold at the Paris Games on Sunday.
The Danes had a nine-point lead at half-time and sealed a 39-26 victory in the second half. This is their second Olympic gold in the event after their success at Rio 2016.
Mathias Gidsel led the way with 11 goals from 13 attempts.
Germany had defeated top favourites France in the quarter-finals, scoring twice in 13 seconds to take the game to overtime. They then edged Spain 25-24 in the semi-finals, but couldn’t offer Denmark a real challenge.
"We reached a Olympic final. If someone had told us that beforehand, we would have signed the contract in blood. I hope that this result in the final doesn’t overshadow our tournament performance,” Germany left wing Rune Dahmke said.
Hosts France won gold at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Tokyo 2020, and are also the most successful team at world championships, with six titles.
Bronze went to Spain, who earlier on Sunday defeated Slovenia 23-22.
Earlier on Saturday, Norway had defeated Tokyo 2020 and world champions France 29-21 on their own turf to get a record-tying third Olympic women’s handball in a perfect send-off for Stine Bredal Oftedal who ended her career with the only title that had been missing.
Bredal Oftedal scored five goals while Henny Reistad led the way with eight as Norway ran away with the game after a slim 15-13 half-time lead and celebrated wildly after the final whistle.
It was especially emotional for Oftedal who retired at age 32, with gold coming after two previous bronze medals and completing a title collection that includes three world and two European titles.
"It is absolutely perfect. In many ways it is almost too good to be true, but then it is true anyway. I am just completely overwhelmed and grateful to be able to stand here like this,” Oftedal said.