Thierry Omeyer is never satisfied. As the French goalkeeper says: 
“We won some titles, but we want to win more.”

“Some titles” is an immense understatement: Omeyer is triple World Champion and triple European Champion. On top of this, he won two gold medals at Olympic Games with the French national team, not to mention his extensive collection of titles with his former clubs THW Kiel and Montpellier HB.

Nevertheless, Omeyer’s hunger for titles is not yet satisfied. The next chance is only a few hours away. By defeating Spain, France reached the final of the World Championship in Qatar and kept their dream of being reigning World, European and Olympic Champion at the same time alive.

Omeyer made major contributions to the win against reigning World Champions Spain and was not surprisingly awarded the “Adidas Man of the match” afterwards – just as he was in the Quarter-Final against Slovenia. The French number 16, who debuted in the national team in 1999, saved 48 percent of the Spanish shots.

Despite being 38 years old, Omeyer, nicknamed “Titi”, does not contemplate quitting any time soon. 

“I still enjoy my sport. I want to play as long as I can. Handball is what I love. Handball is my life,” says Omeyer, who last summer transferred to Paris Saint-Germain – a club which has been highly promoted by a Qatari investment group in the last couple of years.  

“I enjoy having the possibility to compete with the best players in the world. There is pressure when you play important games, but I think it is good pressure,” says the World Handball Player of the Year in 2008.

And pressure there will be in Sunday night’s final against hosts Qatar.

“Qatar has many very good players who play a great tournament. But we will prepare ourselves very well. I am here to win.”

Katharina Gelhaus, Germany, AIPS Young Reporter in cooperation with the IHF