Norway are looking for a fifth world title and the legendary Heidi Loke was on the bench for another team at the World Championship

Only seven players have scored more goals in Norwegian handball history than Heidi Locke. Only eight have won more medals than Loke's 11 in major international competitions – World Championship, European Championship and The Olympic Games.

At 43, Loke, named the 2011 FIFA Women's Player of the Year, is still an active player but has also started coaching. His first major role is as assistant coach of the Polish national team, which finished 11th at the ongoing World Championship, its best result since 2015, when it finished 4th.

The pivot, who is still under contract with Larvik, where he transferred in 2022 from Vipers, has been appointed second coach of the compatriot Arne Senstad this year in March and has since contributed her experience to the team, one that has Norwegian leadership since 2019.

Heidi Loke: “I think 11th place is a good result”

“It was very nice and special to be here as a coach, not as a player. I'm very happy to be here with the Polish girls, because we won the last match against Austria. And I think 11th place is also a good result,” Loke told the IHF.

Heidi Loke on the Polish bench at the WC 2025 Photo: IHF

“We had France and Holland in our groups, two very good teams. Of course, better than us, but we have to keep working hard and try to be better for next year's European Championship, where we will be co-hosts“, she added.

At this edition of the WC, Poland recorded the most number of victories in the competition – four – since 2017, against China, Tunisia, Austria and Argentinaand did not enter the Top 10 only because of the lower goal difference, -14, compared to Romania (+23) and Angola (-2).

Heidi Loke: “When I feel much better, I will also go to the field with them more often”

How did Loke contribute to this result and what is his role? “I can help them with some details. The girls and staff work very well together. Last year I had a knee injury. Normally, I would also participate in training with the girls, because it is a good way to train them. When I feel much better, I will also go to the field with them more often“, said the Norwegian player.

Loke's career achievements are exceptional. She led Norway to two victories in World Championship in 2011 and 2015. He added four titles to European Championshipin 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2020, and at The Olympic Gameswon gold with Norway at London 2012 and bronze at Rio 2016, being included in the ideal team of the competition at both editions.

Heidi Loke with the trophy from the 2020 European Championship Photo: Imago Images

At club level, he won the Champions League four times with Larvik and Gyor.

“We have a lot of work to do, but I think we have the potential to be good. And the team has a lot of potential. It's a little different style of training, but I think it's very good. Especially for the pivots, for the connection between the full-backs and the pivots,” she said of Poland's national team.

However, she does not give up the idea of ​​returning to the field when she is completely healed. “I love handball and that's why I want to keep playing. It's not just a sport, it's a lifestyle. I know I can help the younger players as well“, concluded the second coach of Poland.