Handball superstar Mikkel Hansen will be absent from his club Aalborg Handbold indefinitely after the World Cup. The reason: stress symptoms. Exact backgrounds are not known. Handball legend Stefan Kretzschmar now spoke about mental problems.
“I think it has more to do with enormous pressure for him,” said Kretzschmar in an interview with “Sport Bild” and added: “If you’re the superstar of your sport – nobody knows that better than me – then you have you extra pressure because everyone is looking at you.”
Such a break or psychological support was not an option for Kretzschmar at the time. “It would have helped me. Especially after the Sydney 2000 experience,” admitted the former left winger.
At the Olympic Games, he missed the decisive throw in the quarterfinals against Spain.
“This nightmare has haunted me for years,” admitted Kretzschmar. “But it was frowned upon at the time. At best, psychological help was obtained secretly from the neighboring town,” said the sports director of the HBL club Füchse Berlin: “Everything was covered up with a scam. The time wasn’t right for it then.”
According to Kretzschmar, Foxes professional Mathias Gidsel also felt a great deal of pressure after he played well at the 2021 World Cup and was voted MVP.
“Pressure is underestimated”
“Our player Mathias Gidsel got help after his giant World Cup in 2021. From nobody to superstar – you have to cope with that at that age. Pressure is underestimated,” emphasized the former SC Magdeburg player.
After the 2021 World Cup, Füchse Berlin had secured the services of Gidsel. The transfer of the Dane was hard work for Kretzschmar.
“I actually spoke to Gidsel first. Then I really got on his nerves,” recalled the former international: “Lots of phone calls, meetings, conversations. For me, the personal conversation is the most important thing.”