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 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 the moment, and even my mind before my body. I’m still in shape, but I don’t want to push it too far. I just want to stop, a simple desire, sincere, well-thought-out for three or four years.” With these words, delivered in 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 that she is making the right choice – “My life after handball is going to 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 now 35. I have given a lot, and received a lot. And now, it’s over” – the left back will leave her mark forever within this French team that she has undoubtedly helped build.
Crowned world champion in Germany and rising to the top of Europe a year later at home
With the French national team, the player of Senegalese origin, who will continue the season with Dijon before definitively retiring, has accumulated medals throughout her magnificent international career. The double French champion, with Fleury in 2015 and then under the colors of Metz in 2019, was notably part of the adventure during the 2017 world championship victory in Germany.
She also made her mark in the European champion title obtained at home a year after that gold medal at the world championship. Also present in the selection that defended France’s chances at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Niombla left Brazil with a silver medal around her neck. “Thank you Gnonsiane,” the French Handball Federation pays tribute to the player who earned 108 caps and scored 235 goals for France. A true lady of handball, undoubtedly.
