Only seven players scored more goals in Norway’s history than Heidi Løke. Only eight Norwegian players won more medals than Løke’s 11 in major international competitions – the IHF Women’s World Championship, the Olympic Games and the EHF EURO.

And at 43 years old, Løke, the 2011 IHF Female Player of the Year, is still an active player, but has also started coaching, not being able to stay away from the sport she loves so much.

And her first high-role profile was to sign as an assistant coach for the Poland women’s national team, which finished 11th at the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, their best finish since 2015, when they finished 4th. 

The line player was appointed as the assistant coach of Norwegian Arne Senstad in March 2025 and since then she helped shape up the team, bringing an infinte amount of know-how and experience to a team which has had Norwegian leadership since 2019.

“It has been very nice to be here. It’s special to be here as a coach, not as a player. I’m very happy to be here with the Polish girls. I’m also very happy that we won this last match against Austria. And I think finishing 11th is also good,” says Løke.

“We had France and the Netherlands in our groups, two geeat teams. They are of course better teams than us, but we have to continue to work hard and try to be better for the European Championship next year, where we will be co-hosts. It’s very good that we now end with a win here. It’s important for us.”

At Germany/Netherlands 2025, Poland registered the largest number of wins in the competition – four – since 2017 and did not break into the top-10 only due to their inferior goal difference, -14, to Romania (+23) and Angola (-2). 

But winning against the People’s Republic of China, Tunisia, Austria and Argentina was still a good result, underlining the growth of a team which has been on the up in the previous years, with a strong core and plenty of experience, with more and more Polish players now featuring abroad in different leagues.

And Løke has been also a key ingredient in this form, being respected by the squad thanks to her incredible performances as a player, as well as for her mind for the game.

“I can help them with some small details. I’m very happy to be here with the team. The girls and the staff are working very well together. I had an injury in my knee last year. Normally, I would also join the training with the girls, because this is also a good way of coaching them. When I am much better, I will also go more on the court with them,” adds the Norwegian line player.

Løke’s achievements on the court are borderline incredible. She guided Norway to two World Championship wins in 2011 and 2015, when she was also the All-Star line player of the two editions of the competition.

She add three more apperances in the All-Star team of the EHF EURO in 2010, 2012 and 2014, winning the title four times, in 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2020. At the Olympic Games, she won gold with Norway at London 2012 and bronze at Rio 2016, making the All-Star team in both editions.

At club level, she was also the top goal scorer of the EHF Champions League Women in 2011, and is a four-time winner with Larvik HK and Győri Audi ETO KC.

Few players in the world can boast this kind of CV, making her one of the best ever to have ever don the court and arguably one of the top three line players of all time.

But do Poland’s line players really enjoy having Løke as an assistant coach?

 

“I don’t know, you have to ask them. I always give them something to work on,” laughs Poland’s assistant coach.

“We have a lot of work to do, but I think we have the potential to be good. Also with the team, I see a lot of potential. It’s a little different way of coaching, but I think it’s very good. Especially for the pivots, but also the connection with the back players and the pivots.”

However, Løke wants to continue in this role and stay close to handball. And, why not, also play, when her injury is fully healed.

And then, one thing is sure – the family name and the tradition of producing line players for Norway – continues.

Alexander Løke Gautestad – Heidi’s son – represented Norway at the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, where the Scandinavian side finished eighth.

Alexander’s uncle, Frank, as well as his aunt, Lise, Heidi’s siblings, played handball and were line players, with Frank representing Norway in 167 international matches, while Lise also made her debut in the Norway women’s senior team in 2013.

“I love handball and that’s why I also still want to play. This is not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. I really love the sport and I can also help the younger players,” says Poland’s assistant coach.