The French handball player Gnonsiane Niombla (35 years old) will end her career at the end of the season. The current left back of Dijon has made history with the Bleues, with whom she has been crowned world and European champion, as well as winning silver at the Rio Olympics.
“It’s time. My body tells me it’s time, and even my head before my body. I’m still in shape, but I don’t want to overdo it. I just want to stop, a simple, sincere desire, thought through for three or four years.” With these words, delivered during a long interview on the French Handball Federation’s website, Gnonsiane Niombla (35 years old) announced that she had decided to end her career at the end of the season.
Certain that she is making the right choice – “My life after handball is going to be very beautiful, I’m building it step by step, and I’m very excited to turn this page. My career has been rich in meetings, titles, emotions. You shouldn’t always want more. I started at 17, and I’m 35 now. I have given a lot, I have received a lot. That’s it, it’s over” – the left back will leave her mark forever within this French team, whose history she has undoubtedly contributed to.
Crowned world champion in Germany and crowned on top of Europe a year later at home
With the Bleues, the player of Senegalese origin who will continue the season with Dijon before definitively bowing out has accumulated medals during her magnificent international career. The double French champion, with Fleury in 2015 and then with Metz in 2019, was particularly part of the adventure during the world title in Germany in 2017.
She also had her say in the European champion title won at home a year after that world gold medal. Also present in the selection defending French chances at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Niombla left Brazil with the silver around her neck. “Thank you Gnonsiane,” the French Handball Federation pays tribute to the player who accumulated 108 caps and scored 235 goals for France. A great lady of handball, for sure.
