Mathias Gidsel of Denmark faced challenges from Nikola Karabatic and Nicolas Tournat of France during the Men’s Gold Medal handball match at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on August 7, 2021, at Yoyogi National Stadium. Despite debuting for Denmark just eight months before the Olympics, Gidsel emerged as an Olympic silver medallist, the tournament’s MVP, a world champion, and the second-top scorer after Mikkel Hansen.
Gidsel’s swift ascent wasn’t without difficulties. He opened up about mental health struggles after the Egypt 2021 World Championships, revealing that he had reached a breaking point and sought professional help. His explosive entry into the handball scene brought immense pressure, leading him to advocate for seeking help without fear.
In Tokyo, Gidsel shined, scoring 46 goals and earning MVP and All-Star team honors. However, he aimed for more, setting his sights on surpassing Hansen’s achievements. Gidsel’s journey began in Skjern, Denmark, where he quickly advanced through local club Skjern Håndbold to GOG and later excelled at international youth competitions.
His official international debut came in November 2020 against Finland, followed by a stellar performance at the Egypt 2021 World Championships, where he scored 39 goals with remarkable efficiency. This success led to overwhelming attention and expectations, causing Gidsel to experience a mental slump, which he overcame with the support of Denmark’s sports psychology team and advice from peers like Thomas Mogensen and Mikkel Hansen.
Gidsel’s resilience paid off as he regained his form and love for handball, emphasizing the importance of mental health. In Tokyo, his outstanding performance included an 81 percent shooting efficiency, but Denmark fell short to France in the final. Despite a crucial mistake in the closing seconds, Gidsel’s bravery and responsibility were praised by teammates and coaches.
Looking ahead, Gidsel aimed to join Füchse Berlin while continuing to contribute to GOG and the Danish national team, with aspirations for future championships and Olympic gold at Paris 2024. His ambition is to achieve more accolades than Mikkel Hansen, demonstrating his relentless pursuit of excellence.
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