Nikola Karabatic will play for France of their World Cup quarter-final towards Germany on Wednesday. Perhaps the best participant of all time will finish his illustrious profession in Paris 2024, of all locations.
Nikola Karabatic the A collector of handball titles – and maybe additionally “The Greatest of All Time”. Three-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time European and four-time world champion has ten gold medals round his neck. Since 2003, she has been in 25 of the 26 main handball competitions and has collected a complete of 15 medals with the nationwide workforce, in addition to quite a few data and particular person awards. There are additionally three titles within the Champions League, 20 (!) championships in France, Spain and Germany. “Bock auf Handball” visited him in Paris.
Sometimes Karabatic is compelled to recall an incident when he was younger and performed for THW Kiel: nameless surveys have been carried out amongst athletes for analysis work on the college. One of the questions was: “If I promised you right now that you’d win each main title in your profession, however you could not transfer usually by the point you have been 40, would you do it?” ” Nikola Karabatic didn’t hesitate for a second: “When I used to be over 20 years previous, after all I stated sure.
“Now, at 38, I see issues in another way. When you are younger, you do not suppose the identical method. As you grow old, you perceive the connections higher. Nobody tells you that beforehand. You’re risking your well being to your profession, and even in case you’re an athlete, you continue to have a ardour for sports activities. there are lots of attention-grabbing issues,” Karabatich brazenly admitted.
There are days when every part hurts once I stand up.
In the final sport of the primary spherical of the 2023 World Handball Championship, within the match between France and Spain (28:26), Karabatic rested and injured his leg, and the French famous person, who has formed handball properly for 20 years – because the first championship. France with Montpellier in 2002. However, he’s anticipated to function towards Germany as it’s a quarter-final and Karabatic stays a central issue within the title contenders’ sport.
“There are days when every part hurts once I stand up, and I actually do not feel like understanding,” admits Nikola Karabatic. “But there are nonetheless days when it is actually enjoyable.” Today, it is primarily the video games that also problem him, “even when profitable would not have the identical significance because it did at the start of my profession, once I did not win all of the titles.” Nevertheless, he stated: “Of course, I nonetheless need to win and break data!” – says.
“Being the boss wasn’t necessary to me”
Despite all the non-public achievements and now greater than 70 medals, “titles are nonetheless essentially the most lovely factor” for the three-time world handball participant, he’s particularly joyful for his teammates in such moments, for whom this can be their first victory. “It’s all the time been necessary to me not to be the boss, however to really feel supported by my colleagues.” The similar goes for profitable on the Olympics: “To win the Olympic title in Tokyo with a brand new workforce and my brother was particular.”
“It’s like my private story of coming again in time after my cruciate ligament tear and solely seven months of rehabilitation,” provides Karabatic. For the primary time since 2003, the 18-year-old was on the bench on the 2021 World Handball Championship, however a torn cruciate ligament was additionally to blame for not being on the ground when France gained bronze. – The everlasting karabat was a spotlight – on the age of 25, he represented France within the final 26 tournaments.
Olympic key phrase. With the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, an ideal profession appears to be coming to an finish. Because he’s exhibiting his class each in Paris and in France.
“… in any other case the motivation will probably be misplaced”
“During my profession, I attempted to overlook all of the earlier titles, as a result of in any other case my motivation would go down,” says the famous person, the most-capped handball participant on the Olympic Games and the one handball participant with six. It is feasible to take part within the Olympics. But greater than participation, Karabatic will energy a fourth gold.
But is it actually doable to overlook so many names? “I push them,” says Karabatic. “Of course, I can’t overlook them. Children typically play with medals at residence,” he says. “But not large enough to perceive their worth and ask what the tales behind them are. One day, if my kids ask about them, I’ll inform them these tales.”
“No, handball is just not every part for me anymore”
“But I’m not going to be a father who tells his youngsters a narrative on daily basis about how they grew to become a world champion or an Olympic champion,” he laughs, shaking his head. “No, handball is just not every part for me anymore,” says Karabatic, “I’ve reached some extent in my life the place my household is crucial factor on the earth.” Of course, handball continues to be my ardour, however these priorities have modified, however the sport has given me quite a bit and made me very joyful.” He and his spouse Geraldine have a son, Alec, and a daughter, Nora.
“My handball profession is coming to an finish, so I’m attempting to think about what my subsequent profession will probably be. However, I’m attempting to make handball as enjoyable as doable and revel in the previous couple of years,” he predicts.
I’m very involved about how sports activities and the atmosphere match collectively.
He is already working as an skilled beneath contract with Canal Plus. “I feel that may even be a part of my work afterward. I’m additionally very involved about how sports activities and the atmosphere match collectively. It’s a subject I’m very enthusiastic about and essential to me, particularly since I’m going to be a father.”
Is internet hosting the 2024 Olympics in his hometown of Paris a sensible aim? “Two years go by rapidly, however will I nonetheless have the option to play at a excessive degree for the nationwide workforce and within the Champions League in 2024? I do not know. The French league is getting stronger yearly and each season is stuffed with struggles. Normally I should not have the option to play at this tempo and at this degree at 40 years previous. But if I’m bodily match and nonetheless having enjoyable – why not?
Karabatik depends on “good hygiene”.
In any case, he’s nonetheless in the midst of the 2023 World Handball Championship. “I feel one of many causes I’ve been ready to play handball at a excessive degree for a very long time is due to correct diet and hygiene,” explains Nikola Karabatic. But he additionally stated: “We usually overstepped and overstepped. That’s our drawback in handball. Today I ask myself how I did it.”
Sometimes he additionally performed video games, however everybody knew that the danger of damage was excessive. “But I did it for my workforce, for my mates within the workforce,” says Karabatic wanting again. “They have been crucial factor that handball gave me. Handball taught me quite a bit about life, how folks behave when issues are good and the way folks react when issues are unhealthy. I knew who I wished to be.” He will in all probability mark that reply once more within the ballot right now. “Yes,” says Nicola, “it is all value it.”