Gro Hammerseng-Edin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gro Hammerseng-Edin
1st Chairperson of IHF Athletes' Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 August 2016
President	Hassan Moustafa
Vice President	Miguel Roca Mas Joël Delplanque
Preceded by	Position established

Personal information
Born	(1980-04-10) 10 April 1980 (age 45) Gjøvik, Norway
Nationality	Norwegian
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Center back
Youth career
Years	Team
1990–1995	Gjøvik HK
1995–1996	Raufoss IL
1996–1997	Vardal IF
Senior clubs
Years	Team
1997–2003	Gjøvik og Vardal HK
2003–2010	FC Midtjylland Håndbold
2010–2017	Larvik HK
National team
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2010	Norway	167	(631)
Medal record Women's handball Representing  Norway Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing Team World Championship Silver 2001 Italy Team Silver 2007 France Team European Championship Gold 2004 Hungary Team Gold 2006 Sweden Team Gold 2010 Denmark/Norway Team Silver 2002 Denmark Team

Gro Hammerseng-Edin (born 10 April 1980) is a famous former Norwegian handball player. She played as a center back. Gro was the captain of the Norwegian national team for many years. In 2007, she was named the best female World Handball Player of the Year.

In 2023, she was honored by being included in the European Handball Federation Hall of Fame.

Gro Hammerseng-Edin's Club Career

Gro Hammerseng started playing handball in 1990 at Gjøvik HK. She played for a few youth clubs before beginning her senior career in 1997 with Gjøvik og Vardal HK. She was the captain of this team for six seasons.

In 2003, Gro moved to Denmark to play for the top club Ikast-Bording, which later became FC Midtjylland Håndbold. She played in Denmark for seven years. On February 17, 2010, she signed a contract to play for the Norwegian club Larvik HK. Gro played for Larvik from the 2010-2011 season until she retired.

Gro Hammerseng-Edin stopped playing handball on May 21, 2017. Her last game was winning the Grundigligaen finals with Larvik.

Gro Hammerseng-Edin's National Team Journey

Gro Hammerseng first played for the Norwegian national team on November 29, 2000. Her first big tournament was the 2000 European Championship. Norway finished sixth in that competition. She earned silver medals at the 2001 World Championship and the 2002 European Championship.

In December 2003, coach Marit Breivik chose Gro to be the team captain. Her first competition as captain was the 2003 World Championship. Norway finished sixth, which meant they could not play in the 2004 Summer Olympics.

The 2004 European Championship was a big success. Gro won her first gold medal with the team. She was also named the MVP and was part of the All-Star Team for the tournament.

After a knee injury in 2005-2006, Gro came back strong. She repeated her 2004 success at the 2006 European Championship in Sweden. She won her second gold medal and was again named MVP and part of the All-Star Team. At the 2007 World Championship, Norway lost to Russia in the final. This gave Gro her third silver medal. She was also chosen for the All-Star Team as the best left back.

The 2008 Summer Olympics gave Norway a chance to play Russia again in the final. Norway won 34–27, and Gro received her first Olympic gold medal. By December 22, 2010, she had played 167 games for Norway and scored 631 goals.

Awards and Recognition for Gro Hammerseng-Edin

Gro Hammerseng-Edin received many awards and honors throughout her career:

• 2004
  • MVP - European Championship 2004
  • All-Star Team: European Championship 2004 - Best Playmaker
• 2005
  • All-Star Team: Danish League 2004/05 - Best Playmaker
• 2006
  • MVP - European Championship 2006
  • All-Star Team: European Championship 2006 - Best Playmaker
  • 'Role model' of the year, Norwegian Sports Gala
  • 'Team Player' of the year, Norwegian Sports Gala
• 2007
  • 'Snill Pike Statuetten' - Norwegian media photographers
  • World Handball Player of the Year - Voted by readers of World Handball Magazine and the International Handball Federation website visitors.
  • All-Star Team: World Championship 2007 - Best Left Back
• 2008
  • Casparprisen - Gjøvik City
• 2009
  • 'Player of the Year' voted by the Ikast-fans
• 2010
  • All-Star Team: European Championship 2010 - Best Playmaker
  • 'Team Player' of the year, Norwegian Sports Gala
• 2023
  • European Handball Federation Hall of Fame.

Gro Hammerseng-Edin's Personal Life

Gro Hammerseng has a family with her partner, Anja Edin. They have two sons, Mio, born in 2012, and Leo, born in 2018. In 2014, Gro and Anja published a book about their family.

Before the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Gro joined other Norwegian athletes in a campaign for human rights. This campaign was organized by Amnesty International.

Gro Hammerseng-Edin's Team Results

Norway

• Olympic Games
  • Gold: 2008
• World Championship
  • Silver: 2001, 2007
• European Championship
  • Gold: 2004, 2006, 2010
  • Silver: 2002

FC Midtjylland Håndbold

• Danish Championship
  • Silver: 2007/08
  • Bronze: 2003/04, 2004/05
• Danish Cup (DM)
  • Silver: 2003, 2004
• Cup Winners' Cup
  • Gold: 2003/04
• EHF Cup
  • Silver: 2006/07

Larvik HK

• Norwegian League
  • Gold: 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17
• Norwegian Cup (NM)
  • Gold: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Norwegian Play-off
  • Gold: 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17
• Champions League
  • Gold: 2010/11
  • Silver: 2012/13, 2014/15