Captain Henny Reistad asked Katrine Lunde to join her when the trophy of the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship was handed to Norway after the 23:20 win against Germany in the final in the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam.

It was a small gesture, but the symbolism of it all was clear: Lunde deserved the spotlight, deserved to be the first one to hold the big prize, deserved to be celebrated for yet another Norway success.

Only this time, it was different. It was the last trophy Lunde won with the Norway women’s senior national team.

The shot stopper is arguably the greatest of them all on her position. Or, as the internet slang goes, the GOAT.

She won the gold medal at the Olympic Games three times – at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Paris 2024. She is now a three-time world champion. And a seven time European champion, while also holding the record for the largest number of titles in the EHF Champions League Women – seven.

While playing for Crvena Zvezda Beograd – a team which featured this season in the EHF European League Women – Lunde delivered one of the best – if not the best – performances in the history of the IHF Women’s World Championship as a goalkeeper.

She was the best goalkeeper in the competition in terms of saving percentage – 47,2% - and made 86 saves. And she is 45 years old.

“I'm tired, I'm tired. When the match is over and the medal is on, you lose a little of your energy again. It's a proud moment,” said Lunde for Norwegian media outlet Dagbladet after the end of the final against Germany.

 

After the match was over and the celebrations started, Lunde was once again at the forefront, as she has many times during her illustrious career.

And then, on the podium, she shared an emotional moment with line player Maren Aardahl and right back Nora Mørk. Moved to tears, Lunde was hugged by the two Norway players, with the sheer look on their faces basically in awe of having her as a teammate.

Two world champions, two European champions, two Olympic gold medallists just in awe of the legend standing beside them. Greatness recognising greatness.

“It's surreal, really. I don't feel like my body quite understands that it's the last time with Katrine. Maybe a few hours will pass and there will probably be an "ugly cry" out in the night. It's a pressure cooker. It's been a strange day, with a lot of things we're doing for the last time, preparations and things like that. It's been there the whole time. Then there was so much adrenaline that you didn't have time to think about it. I feel empty, but very happy,” said Mørk for Dagbladet.

Lunde’s ascension to greatness was synonymous with Norway’s domination of women’s handball. Since making her debut for the national team in 2002, Lunde has won 21 medals in 23 years, including 13 titles at the Olympic Games, IHF Women’s World Championship and the EHF EURO.

She amassed 388 matches for the national team – by far the largest number in history for Norway – and made 10 appearances at the IHF Women’s World Championship, since making her debut in 2003, with two matches played against Argentina and Hungary, as an understudy to two other Norway greats – Heidi Tjugum and Cecilie Leganger.

And for one last time, Lunde heard the Norwegian anthem not once, but twice, in an IHF Women’s World Championship final – first at the start of the match and then, on the podium, with the trophy by her side.

“You are proud and moved, and when your thoughts flow during the national anthem, there are a lot of thoughts. You think about everything people have sacrificed for me. It was a nice thing,” said the goalkeeper.

 

Despite being closer to the end of her career rather than its start, Lunde has posted astonishing numbers in the final competitions she played in. 

She was the MVP of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, being the top goalkeeper in the competition, with 79 saves and a 42% saving efficiency. The same year, she had 37 saves, for a 36% saving efficiency at the EHF EURO 2024.

And now, at the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, she delivered a masterclass in goalkeeping, hovering over 50% in her saving efficiency until the semi-final against the Netherlands.

In the final against Germany, Lunde finished with 14 saves and a 41% saving efficiency playing throughout the whole match, giving Norway hope, grit and bringing the world title for the fifth time. 

“It is wonderfully deserved that it was gold, and well-deserved that she was named the World Championship best goalkeeper,” concludes Norway’s coach, Ole Gustav Gjekstad.