Voted best goalkeeper after winning the 2003 IHF Women’s World Championship in Croatia with France, Valerie Nicolas is now the Head Coach of the French women’s national beach handball team and brings them to Kazan for their first-ever world championship.

IHF.info spoke with Nicolas after their opening match against Poland, which they lost 2:0 (21:10) (18:15).

IHF.info: What are your feelings after that first match?

Valerie Nicolas: It was the first game for the French team in the world championship and we lost 2-0, but it was quite OK as we tried a lot of good things. Yes, we made some mistakes, but we are here to learn. 

Of course, we want to win, but we are looking for our team to play well, and play increasingly better match after match, and if we can win, we will try and do this.

IHF.info: You visited the last IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships in Budapest in 2016, what did you learn from that which you could bring to Kazan?

Valerie Nicolas: Budapest was the first time for me to watch such a big tournament and it was important for me to be there to learn and I have learnt a lot since two years ago.

It’s very interesting. For me, it’s a new sport but it’s an interesting sport – I like it. 

IHF.info: Were you able to use any of your experience from playing at such a high level in indoor handball, where you were so successful?

Valerie Nicolas: As you say, I was the best in my position in indoor handball and now I am here to explain this new sport for us to our young players.

Goalkeepers are not the same on the sand of course, but, yes, there are some basic things which can cross over. You can also translate from indoor handball to beach - you can have the same thing.

IHF.info: France are very successful at all levels in both genders in indoor handball, so why is it important for you to be present in the beach world championships?

Valerie Nicolas: It’s important for us to be here as maybe one day, not tomorrow, but after tomorrow, we can be also one of the teams who can take gold, silver or bronze. Maybe we can do that, but for the moment, we are here to learn.

IHF.info: It is an exciting year for beach handball with the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, but in 2024 the Olympic Games are in Paris, France…

Valerie Nicolas: We are looking for beach handball to be at the Olympic Games and we are very interested in that. Paris 2024 and if it is possible to get it there we will all do our best.