Norwegian ladies powered to top spot by edging Russia 34-27 in the Beijing Olympics handball final on Saturday.
It was the first time for the women team to stand atop the Olympic podium in the event. Although reaching Olympic semifinals four times since 1988, the Scandinavian girls had no gold medal to their name. Before the landslide victory, their best result had been two Olympic silvers, respectively at 1988 and 1992 Olympics.
The mastermind behind the historic breakthrough was Marit Breivik, the only female coach of the women's handball teams at the Beijing Olympics.
When asked about her advantage compared with the male counterparts, Breivik only played down the difference and said, "I don't think it is important. Handball is not men's game. Our Norwegian players are all girls, although they can run quickly."
The coach attributed the win to Norway's sound development in handball. "We have boasted lots of handball players and good coaches. Norwegian girls begin to play handball in schools when they are five to six years old."
"Many women players can work as coaches of junior teams after their retirement," she added.
The words just coincided with Breivik's own life experience.
As a player of Norwegian national handball squad, Breivik played more than 100 games with the team from 1975 to 1983 and won three national championships with her club Skogn IL. In 1994, the blonde began to serve as the head coach of the Norwegian women team, after coaching in several clubs.
Under her leadership, the squad has chalked a few international success stories and become one of the most successful in the last ten years.
The Norwegian girls reached their peak form in 1999 and 2007 World Championships by taking the title and the second place respectively. They also conquered the Europe three times in the European Women's Handball Championships in 1998, 2004 and 2006.
"Victory in the European championships is secondary, the main point is that we are part of the party in Beijing," said Breivik after her team won the European championships final in 2006. The Olympic gold on Saturday completed Norway's collection perfectly and realized Breivik's long-held dream.
The victory proved that handball is not men's game, both in and out of the field.
(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2008)