For every athlete, the time comes to think about the end of their career as a player. Some retire from playing altogether, some retire from the demands of both a national team and club career, while some retire from one format of the sport to concentrate on another – the process can be immediate or over time.

IHF.info catches up with four beach handball legends from four continents who have retired from their national teams over the past 12 months to hear about their careers, when they knew it was time to retire, overcoming adversity and a lot more. 

For the first part, we speak to Brazil’s Nathalie Sena.

Born in Recife and now living in João Pessoa, the 41-year-old retired last year from the Brazilian women’s national team, representing her country for the last time at the 2024 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship in China, 15 years after making her debut at the first South American Beach Games in Uruguay in 2009.

Playing career 

My first contact with beach handball was at university, when I was 21-years-old. My first game was a small local championship called the Kika Cup and I remember it was a fantastic experience. I'd never played a beach sport before, and it was amazing to spend two whole days at the beach playing with my friends.

It was at that moment I realised I wanted to play it for the rest of my life.

My first competition was in 2005, in João Pessoa with the APCEF/PB club, I originally started as a pivot but after a year, my technique changed and I became a left back  / left wing until I retired.

Over my 15-year career with Brazil I don't know exactly how many national games I participated in, but I think it was around 100. I definitely don't know how many points I scored.

My most memorable moment playing – and overall – was at the IHF Beach Handball Showcase at the Paris 2024 Olympics Games. It was where I ended my career. I was happy with my friends and celebrating our sport. There was a farewell tribute to me there, with all the coaches and athletes in the arena with me.

When I started playing, the competitions were smaller and few countries played at a high level – we had, maybe, three or four strong matches in an IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship.

Today, all the teams are well-qualified, and the matches are all difficult, but some championships are allowing a lot of physical contact to happen in the game and this ends up making it similar to indoor handball, so I would like to see this change. I would also like to see more countries practicing and promoting beach handball and to see the sport included in a future Olympic Games.

I have millions of funny stories from my playing career, but the best ones are always of me trying on my game uniforms, when it was a bikini and a top. Every time, my uniform was too big and didn't fit me, so I always had to have it sewn specially or I had to wear another bikini underneath.

As well as all of my medals I actually have some of my game shirts displayed in my office, including shirts from other countries I've played against, like Germany, Argentina, Hungary, Greece, Uruguay, Poland and Spain. They are very special.

All of these remind me of the transformative power of sport and how much effort, work, and discipline is worth in building a better world.

Retirement

I'd been thinking about retiring for a few years before I did. I had planned and studied a way to stop playing, but still be close to the sport, as it's my great passion. When I was invited to the IHF Beach Handball Showcase in Paris, I decided that would be my farewell.

I was ready; I’d spent 20 years playing and living beach handball intensely and I chose this magical moment in beach handball history to end my short and beautiful story on the sand.

I was – and still am – on the Brazilian Olympic Committee's Programme for Athletes in Career Transition and will soon complete the Advanced Sports Management Course at the Brazilian Olympic Institute. I also have a degree in Physical Education and specialise in acupuncture.

My decision to retire from the national team first – and then the sport completely – came when I realised, I could help in another way. I’d had incredible moments playing beach handball and was approaching 40 years of age, so decided to dedicate myself to helping new generations continue this legacy.

I had always talked to my mother and my husband, Gulliver (Wellington Esteves), about my decision to retire. They always helped me with kind words about my history in handball and told me they would always support me in any decision.

For now, I am still playing on the Brazilian Beach Handball Circuit, but plan to stop next year. I don't play indoor handball either. My work in Sports Management and my studies at the Brazilian Olympic Committee take up all my time now. I still have an athlete’s mindset, so I need to dedicate myself to my new Sports Management project.

Of course, I miss seeing my friends, traveling, and seeing beautiful places around the world. I've made great friendships through handball that I'll cherish for the rest of my life. But I don't miss the hard training and all the hours away from my family. I had to give up time with my family to dedicate myself to training and matches. That made me sad sometimes but I am eternally grateful for everything that beach handball has given me.

Overcoming adversity 

I suffered two serious injuries while training with the Brazilian national team and these were my lowest moments in the sport.

The first was a broken foot five days before I was meant to travel to Muscat in Oman for my debut IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship in 2012. I missed the tournament but Brazil won gold. The second injury was a fractured fibula a week before the debut of the ANOC World Beach Games in Qatar, back in 2019.

Both injuries were caused at practice by the blocking player falling on me after a shot and were the two worst moments of my career. I had trained very hard for both events and was ready to help my team.

At first, I thought about quitting the sport because I was so disappointed. The injuries were precisely at the time when we had an authoritarian and extremely difficult coach who didn't know how to communicate amicably. He simply cared only about results and I refused to play with him unless he changed his attitude.

I remember having only my family with me, supporting me during my recovery. Those were very difficult days. But I always had a lot of support and affection from my family to keep going and thank all the friends and sponsors who supported my physical training, because they are part of my story.

Today, I'm implementing the Brazilian Olympic Institute's mandatory Safe Sport courses for Brazilian beach handball, with the help of Gulliver (Beach Handball Director of the Brazilian Handball Confederation) and Antonio Guerra Peixe (Technical Director and coach of the Men's Beach Handball Team). These courses cover topics such as anti-racism, anti-abuse and harassment in sports, gender equality, mental health, and more.

Personal memories and future goals

Sport has transformed my life and made me a much better human being.  

Away from the playing side one of my most memorable moments was seeing my Greek friends’ – my family really – happiness as they became world champions at Russia 2018. They are very special to me and to my story as an athlete. When I met them, I saw all the effort and work they put into reaching the top of the world. They are special to me.

But my most memorable moment was meeting and then marrying Gulliver and building our family together. We met when we were both playing for the Brazilian national teams so I can say that beach handball gave me the most important things in my life.

I'd especially like to thank my mother, who always believed in my dream, and Gulliver for not letting me give up on the sport during difficult times.

Now I'm starting the Advanced Sports Management course with the Brazilian Olympic Committee and helping my confederation promote beach handball in my country.

I've always wanted to be a coach, but, for now, my path is taking me into sports management which I'm dedicating myself to.

In the future, I would like to help develop my sport nationally and internationally and I believe that my 20 years of playing at a high level, combined with the Brazilian Olympic Committee's courses, will give me a unique wealth of experience that can enrich sports management. Practical experience combined with a strategic vision allows me to contribute to more humane, efficient, and sustainable sports policies.

Advice

If I could have given myself advice when I started my beach handball career; I would say to be strong and courageous – you'll experience incredible moments and meet incredible people in the sport; it will all be worth it. Even the difficult moments will help you become a better person. Don't give up when they arise; they are important. Face them head-on with great humility. In the end, you'll make friends, make wonderful memories, and grow immensely as a person.

For anyone starting their beach handball career the advice I would offer is to say that understanding from an early age that being an athlete goes beyond talent. A career is made up of daily discipline, patience with the process, and the intelligence to deal with victories and defeats.

Take care of your body, but also your mind, because emotional intelligence and resilience are key differentiators. Surround yourself with people you trust, remain humble and always learn. Have your goals, but don't let them dim the joy of playing the sport.

A career is short, so live each stage intensely and build a beautiful legacy inside and outside the arena.

Nathalie Sena – Beach Handball career 

National team 
2009-2024: Brazil women 

Club teams 
2005-2013: APCEF/PB, João Pessoa, Brazil 
2013-2015: HCP/PB, João Pessoa, Brazil 
2014-2016: Spartakus, Thessaloniki, Greece 
2017-2023: Gremio UNIPE/PB, João Pessoa, Brazil 
2024: ADM/Marica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 
2025-current: Rio Handbeach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 

Awards/titles 
2009: Gold – South American Championship 
2010: Gold – Brazilian Beach Handball Championship 
2011: Gold – Pan-American Championship 
2011: Gold – South American Championship 
2011: Gold – South American Club Championship 
2012: Gold – Brazilian Beach Handball Championship 
2013: Gold – Brazilian Beach Handball Championship 
2013: Gold – Pan-American Championship 
2013: Gold – The World Games
2013: Best Left Back, All-star Team The World Games
2014: Best Left Back, All-star Team European Beach Handball Tour (ebt) Finals 
2014: Gold – IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship 
2014: Gold – South American Club Championship 
2014: Silver – European Beach Handball Tour (ebt) Finals 
2015: Best Left Back, All-star Team European Beach Handball Tour (ebt) Finals 
2016: Silver – IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship 
2016: Best Left Wing, All-star Team IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship 
2016: Gold – Brazilian Beach Handball Championship 
2016: MVP, All-star Team European Beach Handball Tour (ebt) Finals 
2017: Gold – Brazilian Beach Handball Championship 
2017: Gold – The World Games 
2018: Bronze – IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship

Photos: Nathalie Sena/CBHB/Ruas Midia/IHF