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 French national team, with whom she was crowned world and European champion, as well as winning silver at the Rio Olympics.
“It’s time. My body tells me it’s the moment, and even my mind before my body. I am still in shape, but I don’t want to push it too far. I just want to stop, a simple, sincere desire, thought out for three or four years.” With these words, delivered during a long interview on the French Handball Federation website, Gnonsiane Niombla (35 years old) announced that she had decided to end her career at the end of the season.
Certain of making the right choice – “My life after handball will be very beautiful, I am building it step by step, and I am very excited to turn this page. My career has been rich in encounters, titles, emotions. One should not always want more. I started at 17, I am 35 today. 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 undoubtedly helped build.
Crowned world champion in Germany and climbed to the top of Europe a year later at home
With the national team, the Senegalese-born player, who will continue the season with Dijon before finally 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 notably part of the adventure during the 2017 World Cup victory in Germany.
She also played a significant role in the European champion title won at home a year after the world championship gold medal. Also present in the squad that defended French chances at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Niombla left Brazil with a silver medal. “Thank you Gnonsiane,” the FFBB pays tribute to the player who earned 108 caps and scored 235 goals for France on her social networks. A true lady of handball, undoubtedly.
