Simon confirms spectacular ascension to greatness at Paris 2024

Two years ago, at the 2022 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship in North Macedonia, Hungary’s centre back, Petra Simon, took the competition by storm and was named the All-Star centre back, as her fantastic form ensured that her team secured the bronze medal.

Last summer, also in July, Simon delivered another fantastic performance at the W19 EHF EURO 2023, when she was named the MVP and the All-Star centre back of the competition, as Hungary retained their crown at the Under-19 age level.

But for Simon, as for many other players, the big question was the transition to the senior level. Which, in Hungary’s case, is always carefully managed, as plenty of players show potential in the younger age categories, yet fail to translate it to the top level.

Yet for the centre back, the question is how far she can go, not if she has what it needs to make that transition. Despite being only 19 years old, and one of the youngest players in the women’s competition at Paris 2024, Simon has already shined on the court. 

After Hungary conceded a loss in the first match against reigning Olympic champions, France, 28:31, they could not afford another loss in the second match against Brazil. And yet, Hungary did not hold the lead after the 14th minute, and were down three goals in the 46th minute.

However, a comeback materialised and it was Simon who spearheaded it, with five goals in the second half. In fact, five of Hungary’s last nine goals came from the 19-year-old centre back, who took responsibility and changed the game with some fantastic breakthroughs, her trademark move.

But for a 19-year-old player to have ice in her veins when everything is on the line? That shows character, grit and a lot of determination. After coach Vladimir Golovin took a team time-out with 18 seconds to go and the match tied, 24:24, Simon found herself with the ball in possesion in an unfamiliar right back position.

“I looked at the score and I was like, oh my God, I have the ball, I have to shoot. I was like, okay, what can we lose? It's a chance and I have to take it. I'm glad I took it,” says Simon.

The centre back broke through, found an opening and put the ball past Brazil’s goalkeeper, Gabriela Moreschi, with five seconds to go, lifting Hungary to a crucial 25:24 win, and two points which will surely be decisive in their berth to make back-to-back appearances in the quarter-finals at the Olympic Games, after Hungary also qualified in the knockout phase at Tokyo 2020.

“It was amazing. I cannot tell in words how I felt. This fight for me was incredible. I am at a loss for words. I'm so happy and proud of my team that we made it. We came back from the tough times we had and we finally made it. We did it together,” says Simon.

This is not Simon’s first major international competition, as she made an unexpected debut for the senior team at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, where the centre back replaced the injured Petra Vamos. Basically, her ascension was fast tracked, but it was all worth it and a fantastic move by Hungary, which always proudly promoted young players in the senior team.

But with Simon, they really look to have a gem on their hands, a player so young, who plays like she has been there for several years, over 100 appearances in the senior team and never backs down from a challenge, irrespective how difficult it might be.

“I never dreamed of scoring a decisive goal at the Olympics for Hungary and bring a win to our team. But in the game I thought to myself that we have to win this game. It was no question about it. We did everything and in the end we had one last chance to make it happen. And we did,” said Simon.

Immediately after the final whistle, she was hugged by teammate Katrin Klujber – the two are also playing together for Hungarian champions FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria – where Simon scored 39 goals this season in the EHF Champions League Women.

Basically, Klujber was the entire Hungary, a handball-mad country, which surely enjoyed that win. Next for Hungary are matches against Angola and Spain, where wins could see them get closer to the quarter-finals. And bring more smiles to their faces.