In the summer of 2023, Thomas Sommer Arnoldsen, a rising star in Danish handball, transitioned from Skanderborg-Aarhus to Aalborg Handbold, joining a team of high-profile players like Mikkel Hansen and Niklas Landin. However, the 22-year-old center back faced challenges as he began to feel burnt out after several tough seasons. To address this, Aalborg enrolled him in an overload management program, and after more than four months, he returned to the court with renewed energy.
Arnoldsen’s comeback was impressive. He played a crucial role in Aalborg Handbold’s journey to the EHF Champions League Men’s final, where they eventually lost to Barcelona. His performance also caught the attention of Denmark’s national team coach, Nikolaj Jacobsen.
Reflecting on his return, Arnoldsen expressed his happiness at being back and playing at the Olympics. Just two years ago, he was an All-Star center back at the M20 EHF EURO 2022, playing at the junior level. Now, he’s making his debut at a major international competition in Paris 2024, much like Mathias Gidsel did before shining at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Arnoldsen was initially surprised to find himself on the national team, especially considering he hadn’t been playing in the first half of the season. Despite having only seven matches and 21 goals for Denmark before the Olympics, Jacobsen placed strong faith in him, as he had done with Gidsel and Simon Pytlick in previous years.
Denmark has a reputation for nurturing young talent in high-stakes competitions. Players like Arnoldsen have not disappointed, even making it difficult for seasoned stars like Mikkel Hansen to secure starting positions. Hansen started the opening match against France but was replaced in the first half, while Arnoldsen was a starter in Denmark’s second win against Egypt.
Arnoldsen credits his success to his mindset of simply playing handball and the support of his exceptional teammates. This approach has clearly paid off, with Denmark scoring 67 goals in their first two matches, 71% of which were contributed by Arnoldsen, Gidsel, and Pytlick.
Denmark’s teamwork and fluid attack have been outstanding, and Arnoldsen seems like he’s been part of the team for years, despite his young age. He emphasizes that playing alongside great teammates like Gidsel and Hansen has made the game easier for him.
With Arnoldsen, Gidsel, and Pytlick leading the backline, Denmark is poised for continued success, not only in the Paris 2024 Olympics but also in future competitions, including their quest for a fourth consecutive IHF Men’s World Championship title.
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