16 years ago, when Germany women’s senior national team took part for the last time at the Olympic Games, at Beijing 2008, Xenia Smits was only 14 years old. She was still in Belgium, and dreaming about becoming a handball player.

Fast-forward to July 2024, and Smits, born in Belgium, but who obtained German citizenship in 2014, ten years ago, is one of the key players for Germany, who are making a long-awaited return to the top, after consistent performances in the major international competitions they took part in.

“It is an amazing feeling, of course. Because the Olympics are the pinnacle, and I am really, really looking forward to be playing there. I remember watching the Games when I was little and thinking how I could get there. And the dream is now here, I will be there, alongside my teammates, in Paris,” says Smits.

When she was only 18 years old, the left back moved to Germany, where she played for HSG Bad Wildungen. She consistently delivered good performances, being called up for the senior national team in 2014. From there, Smits became a true stalwart, a double-pronged weapon, excellent both in attack and in defence.

She was the MVP of the EHF European League Women when her club team, SG BBM Bietigheim, won the title in the 2021/22 season. She also was instrumental in ensuring that Bietigheim is the first German club to reach the final of the EHF Champions League Women this season. And Smits was also named the MVP of the Bundesliga in the 2023//24 season.

Now, a new challenge awaits, with bigger stakes, more responsibility and some pressure to help Germany clinch a good finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“It is something amazing to be there. I have never been to the Olympics, but it is a different competition. Like I have said before, I remember watching it on TV and I also remember I had some players I looked up to, like Nadine Krause, Nikola Karabatic, there were many players like were like idols. So it is just amazing to follow into their footsteps and be here too,” adds Smits.

Germany’s appearance at the Olympic Games will also serve as a good showcase for women’s handball in the country, which has always been a mainstay for men’s handball, including boasting the most competitive club league in the world, the Bundesliga.

But women’s handball has been on the rise too, with Germany finishing eighth, seventh and sixth at the last editions of the IHF Women’s World Championship, as well as seventh at the last two EHF EURO editions. Moreover, in the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament they hosted in Neu-Ulm, the arena was full and Germany swept their opponents, Slovenia, Montenegro and Paraguay.

And Smits was also there on the court, leading by example, when SG BBM Bietigheim made it to the final of the EHF Champions League Women this season, marking another marquee premiere for German women’s handball.

“It is very important to be here, because we can inspire more and more young girls to take up this amazing and beautiful sport. I think the power of the example is crucial and showing that we can do it, be there, and challenge between the top teams in the world is something that can only benefit women’s handball in Germany,” says Smits.

Of course, Germany will not have it easy at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where they are due to face four other European teams – reigning European champions Norway, the runners-up at the EHF EURO 2022 and the bronze medallists at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, Denmark, Slovenia and Sweden – plus a plucky Asian side in the Republic of Korea.

Therefore, a quarter-finals berth is definitely not a given and Germany will have to work their way into the top eight teams in the world, with no guarantee that things will go their way unless Markus Gaugsich’s team provides some good performances.

“There is no room for mistake, of course, because we face some of the best teams in the world, as it should be at the Olympic Games. But we are ready and we want to put on some good performances. We have the strength and the quality to do that,” adds Smits.

If the 30-year-old left back, who is one of the most experienced Germany players, needed more motivation, she got some in form of some young players, which Smits coaches part-time throughout the year.

“They remind me of me a bit, so I think they will all be inspired by what Germany will do at the Olympic Games. They usually follow matches and try to learn as much as possible, so this will be great for them and for many young children trying to take up handball in the country. It is an amazing feeling and an amazing opportunity and, once again, I am immensely proud of this,” adds Smits.

Xenia Smits 🤯🇩🇪 #DENNORSWE2023 #aimtoexcite @DHB_Teams pic.twitter.com/pBMeeu1uzy

— International Handball Federation (@ihfhandball) November 30, 2023

"A Voice in handball"

A player and a part-time coach for young children, Smits also has an important voice in handball. This is why she decided to run for a place in the IHF Athletes’ Commission for the election period of 2024-2028.

The mission of the IHF Athletes’ Commission, according to Article 1 of the Regulations for IHF Athletes’ Commission, is to represent the views of the athletes and make their voice heard within the IHF. All athletes participating in the Olympic Handball Tournaments have the right to vote during the period of the Olympic Games. Further information about the voting procedure will be provided in due course.

“I think, we, as athletes, have a voice. That is very, very important, because we need to make ourselves heard. I think it is crucial to have representation at the highest level and this is why I decided to submit my candidature, because I want to be there and make handball even better for everybody. We are all striving in this, we are in the same boat, therefore we need to work together and be even better,” concludes Smits.