Viola Leuchter is an important factor in the German backcourt – and at just 21 years old. In the World Cup semi-finals, the Rhinelander relies on her motto “et hätt noch emmer jot jejange”.
When people talk about the strength of Gen Z in the DHB team these days, one name is often forgotten: Viola Leuchter. Purely musically – rightly so. With Abba, Queen and the Beatles, three bands are in their top five Spotify Wrappedwhich one would actually assign to the older generation.
“Of course I’m still a young soul”said the backcourt player with a grin. At 21, Leuchter is the second youngest on the team. She has been an integral part of the national team for 2.5 years. “Viola Leuchter is almost an old hand with us”joked captain Antje Döll. “Sometimes you forget how young she is and what she can achieve. Exceptional person on and off the field”Xenia Smits paid her respects.
A lot of oomph
Team old or team young: why decide? “You may not necessarily have to move into a camp. Well, of course, I’m still young. But of course I’m already a bit involved with the team, and maybe I already have a bit of experience.”said the backcourt player, who is an important pillar in the German game. She has contributed 19 goals at this World Cup so far.
“Vio does it really well. She has a good throw, she jumps up, she slams the thing over you, that’s annoying sometimes”goalkeeper Katharina Filter confirmed her teammate’s throwing power. Leuchter is 1.87 meters tall and throws around 85 km/h are the order of the day for her.
fun cannon
She doesn’t just entertain her team in sports. Off the field, Viola Leuchter and Mareike Thomaier are considered the fun duo. “We have a similar sense of humor, which we like to convey to the outside world. I can’t say whether it sometimes gets on people’s nerves, but we have a lot of fun together.”said Leuchter.
Christmas carols are sometimes sung while waiting for training. “It’s no secret that Mareike and Vio are often available as a double pack. As an entertainment program, I would say”says Smits, “Vio is very funny, but she knows that herself and that often makes it even funnier.”
Setbacks overcome
Leuchter didn’t have much to laugh about at the last World Cup. She was named the best young player at her first World Cup. But after the bitter defeat in the quarter-finals against Sweden, she tore her cruciate ligament in the placement game and had to take a break for months. “It was a tough time“, Leuchter describes the rehabilitation phase today, “But handball is my passion. I never thought about not giving everything for the comeback.”
Another serious setback this summer: just one season after moving to league leader HB Ludwigsburg, the club announced bankruptcy. “I’m relatively modest”she told the “Bietigheimer Zeitung” at the time. Within a few weeks she had to look for a new club just before the start of the season. She found him at the Danish first division club Odense, with whom she also competes in the Champions League.
It still would have been nice
The Rhinelander’s life motto has been confirmed so far: “Et would still have emmer jot jejange”. Standard German: Things have always gone well so far. This is also the approach of the Aachen native at this tournament: “I can’t say whether that’s everyone’s motto, but I do think that this Rhineland mentality is good for everyone. Et kütt wie et kütt. We’re in the flow well, so you don’t have to stress yourself out“, says Leuchter.
Even given the distribution of roles in the semi-final against France, she doesn’t do that. For the first time, the DHB women are not going into a game in this tournament as favorites. “We have nothing to lose. We can only win. We’re just looking forward to the game and will give it our all.”said Leuchter.