The Swedish national handball team bonds over intense team-building activities in Norway ahead of the Olympics

The star sings a lyric about the days of the national team in Norway

The national handball team has made “Bengan Boys” this week.

Team building in Norway has taken the team to new heights ahead of the Olympics.

– It was really more hell than anything else, says Jim Gottfridsson about the biggest challenge.

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When Bengt Johansson was the national handball captain from 1988 – 2003, he often gathered his national team for activities other than handball.

But at that time there were so many more national team days throughout the year and the success of the tournaments that you almost had to play qualifiers.

When today’s national team took bronze in the EC in January, they qualified directly for the Olympics this summer and the WC next year.

Now that they didn’t have to play World Cup qualifiers this week, national team captain Glenn Solberg chose to take the team to his home country of Norway, specifically Ulsteinvik on the Westland coast, for four days with more team building than handball on it. the program.

They have, among other things, fished, walked and climbed mountains.

“Many come outside their comfort zone”

Jim Gottfridsson becomes lyrical when he talks about the days in Norway since the team arrived in Växjö where they will meet Germany in international training today.

– What four days we had – wow. You know everyone well after so many years and we have grown together as a group. Now we have had the opportunity to get to know each other even a little more and in a different way. We build memories together, memories as well as glue balls on a 40 x 20 board It’s nice. I have never been part of days like this in the national team, says the engine of the game, who made his debut in Blågult twelve years ago.

Last Thursday, people climbed mountains, which included, among other things, getting over a very narrow footbridge between two mountains, 750 meters up in the air.

– There are many who come outside their “comfort zone”. Many have overcome their fears and phobias. It’s really good to be in such a group that pushes each other in such situations, says “Gotte”.

“My hands were sweating just talking about it”

How do you feel about heights – are you afraid of heights?

– God yes. Many of us are afraid of heights. I wasn’t stupid about that bridge. I was ready to convert. It was really more hell than anything else. We talked about it at lunch today and I got sweaty just talking about it. But we managed it as a group, regardless of the age of the director and down to all the players.

Are there any players at the other end of the scale – who aren’t afraid of heights at all?

– There was another “bridge” and it was just a rope you walked on. Only Wanne (Hampus) and Pellas (Lucas) did it. I only saw him on video but he looked absolutely insane.

They don’t understand better do they?

– Exactly. There’s a reason they’re out there on the edge (laughs).