interview
The 50-year-old Heike Ahlgrimm has been the head national coach for young women since September 2025 and knows many of the national handball players from their previous coaching positions. The Leipzig native is optimistic about the German squad and the long-awaited medal chances.
Sports show: Ms. Ahlgrimm, the squad for the home World Cup for German handball players has been determined. A fundamental position for every tournament is that of goalkeeper. With Katharina Filter from Team Esbjerg, Germany has an experienced number one.
Heike Ahlgrimm: I don’t know how Markus Gaugisch (national coach) sees it with a clear number one, but Katharina Filter has developed incredibly in the last few years. After the performance she put in in Krefeld, where she was a guarantee of victory against the Netherlands, I am already assuming that she will be number one.
DHB goalkeeping coach Jasmina Rebmann-Jankovic instructs goalkeepers Sarah Wachter and Katharina Filter
Sports show: How do you see the 26-year-old in international comparison with the top nations Norway, France and Denmark?
Ahlgrimm: Everything stands or falls with the goalkeepers, that is clear. We need good goalkeepers, a good team and the way the last few games have gone, we have that too. We’ve never had a problem in the goalkeeper position and I don’t see that happening this year either. But it depends on Katharina Filter. She has become more consistent, but Sarah Wachter is also showing with BVB in the Champions League that she has taken the next step.
Sports show: Before that, Xenia Smits, the most experienced in the DHB team, is the head of the German defense. At the French top club Metz, the 31-year-old is mainly used defensively. How do you see your role in the team?
Ahlgrimm: Their strength is definitely defense, that’s been the case for the last few years. She also played a lot of defense-attack rotation in Ludwigsburg, but I still think very highly of her. I am a fan of Xenia, of her style, of her achievements over the last few years. I was their coach in the B youth team at HSG Blomberg-Lippe. It’s nice to see this development now. And I believe that it can also provide important impetus for Germany in attack.
Sports show: Backcourt player Emily Vogel (formerly Bölk) regularly impresses with top performances in the Champions League – but Germany has had problems in recent years. Could the knot break at the home World Cup?
Ahlgrimm: I think we all hope so. She has already shown internationally that she can do this and has always performed well at her home club (Ferencváros Budapest). I would hope that she can also do what she is capable of in the national team. A few things have been changed at the DHB to take some of the pressure off her.
For example, she is no longer a captain – that can be an advantage. She has played well in the last few games, so I assume that the knot in the national jersey will now burst. Because she is one of the very good players Germany has. Above all, I wish her to just get out there and move the national team forward.
Sports show: One top performer is missing from the World Cup: cyclist Julia Behnke, who has ended her career. Who can take on their role in attack or defense?
Ahlgrimm: You can’t replace her one-on-one because Julia Behnke had her advantages on both sides of the field. However, I’m not worried about the pivot position. In Jolina Huhnstock we have a huge talent who can also play in the center of defense, and up front Lisa Antl can keep up internationally with her physicality. They are such different pivots that the national coach can easily change and adapt to the opponents.
Powerful throw: DHB player Viola Leuchter is supposed to cause danger from the backcourt
Sports show: With Viola Leuchter and Nina Engel, we have the shooting stars of recent years in the right back position. Are the two ready for their role as top performers?
Ahlgrimm: Definitely – I’m looking forward to both of them. I trained Nina myself for two years and she has now taken the next step internationally. I think the contrast to and with Viola Leuchter is very, very good for us. We also have Julia Maidhof, who is also very strong in defense. Even on the half-right, we haven’t had a situation where we don’t have to worry for a long time – we’ve had different times.
Sports show: Pereira’s Aimee is perhaps the biggest surprise in the World Cup squad. How can she strengthen the team?
Ahlgrimm: She has done her part well in defense in the last few games. She is also the only player who is used exclusively in defense. I’m curious to see how this fits into the national coach’s squad. But with her we have someone very strong in the center of defense, where not many players can cover.
Germany’s handball players celebrate their victory in the European Championship qualification against North Macedonia
Sports show: Now we’ve talked about the squad, but what are Germany’s chances at the home World Cup?
Ahlgrimm: I actually have a lot of confidence in the team, but that has been the case in recent years. I would like us to finally be able to utilize the potential that we have. I think that a few teams are still too far away, but it is possible to win a medal at a home World Cup – and if not there, somewhere else. I would like that for German women’s handball because we need role models and successes that we haven’t had recently.
But a lot has to come together for this to happen. On a good day you can be surprised – otherwise I see the usual ones like Norway and France ahead. But we would also be happy to take the next step and reach the semi-finals. Because then everything is possible, especially at home.
Sports show: Recently, the DHB team struggled with missed opportunities and fluctuations in performance at inopportune times. How can this be prevented?
Ahlgrimm: We simply didn’t use it in the crucial moments – and the question is: why is that? It is very important that all players exploit their potential, work as a team and do not allow themselves to be distracted from outside sources. You should see a home World Cup as an opportunity, it’s something very special. Success would also be important for the next generation, because they are watching it closely. And that’s what it’s all about: We have to create role models and be proud to wear the eagle on our chest. I hope that every player who is there invests everything in it.