In their first three appearances at the Olympic Games – Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 – Denmark women’s team secured a historic three-peat, having a 100% winning record and dropping a single match from the 19 they played.

Since Athens 2004, the Scandinavian powerhouse has featured only once at the Olympics, at London 2012, when they ended up on the ninth position, winning only one match and conceding four losses, three more than in the previous three editions combined.

But since London 2012, despite having a generation that was touted to be golden, Denmark failed to make the mark, missing the mark at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Yet in the past years, the Scandinavian side has been one of the most consistent teams in women’s handball, finishing fourth at the EHF EURO 2020, securing the bronze medals at the IHF Women’s World Championship in 2021 and 2023, and the silver at the EHF EURO 2022.

That consistency was the key in bringing Denmark back to the Olympic Games, as the silver medal at the EHF EURO 2022 punched their ticket towards Paris 2024, with a strong and experienced side, which aims to deliver another medal to their already impressive cabinet.

“We go there with a dream of winning. We must of course soak up the experience, but not so much that it takes the focus away from the games. The squad we have has so much final round and Champions League experience, so we believe they can handle the attention and circus surrounding the Olympics,” says Denmark’s coach, Jesper Jensen.

Indeed, Denmark have a star-studded team at their disposal, with high-profile and experienced players, with the youngest member of the squad being the All-Star left wing at the EHF EURO 2024, Emma Friis, aged 24 years old. Stalwarts like Sandra Toft, Kristina Jørgensen and Anne Mette Hansen are all in the squad, as line player Kathrine Heindahl also returned after an injury suffered at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship.

“It has been exciting over time, but it has also been wild. Crazy with so many emotions at play among the players who have fought to join. We have gone after putting the best possible team that can be successful at the Olympics, and in the process you are going to disappoint some players. It has been hard. We have been careful and serious, but it has been the most difficult task in my time as coach,” said Denmark’s coach, Jesper Jensen.

Denmark will head to Group A in the preliminary round, where they are due to face four other European sides, Norway, Germany, Slovenia and Sweden, plus the Republic of Korea.

Against Norway, Denmark lost both the EHF EURO 2022 final and the semi-final at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, while against Sweden they won the bronze medal match at the last edition of the world handball flagship competition.

Denmark

Coach: Jesper Jensen

Key Players: Sandra Toft (goalkeeper), Kristina Jørgensen (left back), Emma Friis (left wing), Anne Mette Hansen (left back)

Qualification for Paris 2024: EHF EURO 2022: Runners-up

Previous appearances: 1996: Champions, 2000: Champions, 2004: Champions, 2012: 9th 

Group at Paris 2024: Group A: Norway, Germany, Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark, Republic of Korea