Valérie Nicolas
Encyclopedia
Valérie Nicolas is a French
handball
goalkeeper
and former player of the French national team
. She became World Champion in 2003 with the French team, and was also voted Most Valuable Player
and Best Goalkeeper. She was voted into the All-Star Team in the 2007 World Championship
. Among her other triumphs are a silver medal from the World Championships, two bronze medals from the European Championships, victories at the Champions League, the EHF Cup
, the Cup Winners' Cup, and both French and Danish national championships.
, Finistère
, and started her professional career in USM Gagny. From 1995 to 2003 she played for top club ES Besançon. With Besançon she won the French Championship in 1998 and in 2001, and the French Cup in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 she won the French Championship, the French Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup. After this successful season, she moved to Denmark
to play for Viborg HK
. She stayed at Viborg from 2003 to 2007, winning two Danish Championships (in 2004 and 2006), two Danish Cups, the Champions League in 2006 and the EHF Cup
in 2004. She then played for Ikast/Bording EH
one season, 2007/08, before returning to France to play for N2 (French fourth division) club ASPTT Nice.
in 1995. Until her retirement from the national team
in 2008 (after the Summer Olympics
), Valérie Nicolas played 234 international matches. In 1997 she finishted 10th at the World Championship
. She won a silver medal at the 1999 World Championship
, after an exciting final match between France and Norway
in Lillehammer
, which needed two overtimes to break the tie, ending 25-24 to Norway. In 2000 she finished 6th at the Olympics in Sydney
, and 5th at the European Championship. She finished fifth at the 2001 World Championship
with the French team, and won a bronze medal at the 2002 European Women's Handball Championship
. She won a gold medal with the French team at the 2003 World Championship
, and was voted Most Valuable Player
and All-Star Team goalkeeper at the championship. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens
she finished fourth with the national team. She finished 12th at the 2005 World Championship
in Russia, and won a bronze medal at the 2006 European Women's Handball Championship
. At the 2007 World Championship
in France, where the French team placed fifth, her performance was recognized again, and she was selected a member of the All-Star Team together with her Ikast teammates Gro Hammerseng
and Katja Nyberg
. She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, where the French team finished fifth, and she ranked shared second on the Top Goalkeepers list with a 40% save rate.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
goalkeeper
Goalkeeper
In many team sports which involve scoring goals, a goalkeeper is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by intercepting shots at goal...
and former player of the French national team
France women's national handball team
The France women's national handball team is the national team of France. It is governed by the Fédération Française de Handball and takes part in international team handball competitions.- Olympic games :* 2000 : 6th* 2004 : 4th* 2008 : 5th...
. She became World Champion in 2003 with the French team, and was also voted Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and Best Goalkeeper. She was voted into the All-Star Team in the 2007 World Championship
2007 World Women's Handball Championship
The 2007 World Women's Handball Championship took place in France from 2 December to 16 December 2007. It was the 18th team handball world championship for women. A total of 24 teams participated in the tournament...
. Among her other triumphs are a silver medal from the World Championships, two bronze medals from the European Championships, victories at the Champions League, the EHF Cup
Women's EHF Cup
The Women's EHF Cup is an official competition for women's handball clubs of Europe. It takes place every year, from September to May. It was first organized by the European Handball Federation in 1993...
, the Cup Winners' Cup, and both French and Danish national championships.
Club career
Nicolas was born in Lampaul-GuimiliauLampaul-Guimiliau
Lampaul-Guimiliau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.It is noted for its parish close.-Etymology:...
, Finistère
Finistère
Finistère is a département of France, in the extreme west of Brittany.-History:The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth, and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel...
, and started her professional career in USM Gagny. From 1995 to 2003 she played for top club ES Besançon. With Besançon she won the French Championship in 1998 and in 2001, and the French Cup in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 she won the French Championship, the French Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup. After this successful season, she moved to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
to play for Viborg HK
Viborg HK
Viborg HK is the name of a Danish handball club from Viborg. The club has many teams for both women and men, but especially the professional women's team is one of the most successful in Danish and European handball since the beginning of the 1990s...
. She stayed at Viborg from 2003 to 2007, winning two Danish Championships (in 2004 and 2006), two Danish Cups, the Champions League in 2006 and the EHF Cup
Women's EHF Cup
The Women's EHF Cup is an official competition for women's handball clubs of Europe. It takes place every year, from September to May. It was first organized by the European Handball Federation in 1993...
in 2004. She then played for Ikast/Bording EH
FC Midtjylland Håndbold
FC Midtjylland Håndbold is a Danish women's handball club based in Ikast. They play in the Dame Håndbold Ligaen since 1991. In 1998, FCM won the Danish Championship...
one season, 2007/08, before returning to France to play for N2 (French fourth division) club ASPTT Nice.
National team
Nicolas made her debut on the French national teamFrance women's national handball team
The France women's national handball team is the national team of France. It is governed by the Fédération Française de Handball and takes part in international team handball competitions.- Olympic games :* 2000 : 6th* 2004 : 4th* 2008 : 5th...
in 1995. Until her retirement from the national team
France women's national handball team
The France women's national handball team is the national team of France. It is governed by the Fédération Française de Handball and takes part in international team handball competitions.- Olympic games :* 2000 : 6th* 2004 : 4th* 2008 : 5th...
in 2008 (after the Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
), Valérie Nicolas played 234 international matches. In 1997 she finishted 10th at the World Championship
1997 World Women's Handball Championship
-Final standings:Source:...
. She won a silver medal at the 1999 World Championship
1999 World Women's Handball Championship
-Group B:---------------------------------------------------------Group C:---------------------------------------------------------Group D:----------------------------------------...
, after an exciting final match between France and Norway
Norway women's national handball team
The Norway women's national handball team is the national team of Norway. It is governed by the Norwegian Handball Federation and takes part in international handball competitions....
in Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
, which needed two overtimes to break the tie, ending 25-24 to Norway. In 2000 she finished 6th at the Olympics in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and 5th at the European Championship. She finished fifth at the 2001 World Championship
2001 World Women's Handball Championship
The 2001 World Women's Handball Championship, the 15th of its kind, was held between December 4 and December 16, 2001, and was hosted by Italy, with the final being played in Merano.-Final standings:Source:...
with the French team, and won a bronze medal at the 2002 European Women's Handball Championship
2002 European Women's Handball Championship
The 2002 EHF European Women's Handball Championship was held in Denmark from 6–15 December. It was won by Denmark after beating Norway 25–22 in the final match.-Venues:The European Championships was held in the following cities:...
. She won a gold medal with the French team at the 2003 World Championship
2003 World Women's Handball Championship
-Final ranking:-All Star Team:*Goalkeeper: *Left wing: *Left back: *Pivot: *Centre back: *Right back: *Right wing: -Top goalscorers:-References:...
, and was voted Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and All-Star Team goalkeeper at the championship. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
she finished fourth with the national team. She finished 12th at the 2005 World Championship
2005 World Women's Handball Championship
-Group B:Games played in SCC Peterburgsky.All times are UTC+3---------------------------------------------------------Group C:Games played in Yubileyny Sports Palace .All times are UTC+3--------...
in Russia, and won a bronze medal at the 2006 European Women's Handball Championship
2006 European Women's Handball Championship
The 2006 EHF European Women's Handball Championship was held in Sweden from 7–17 December. It was won by Norway after beating Russia 27–24 in the final match....
. At the 2007 World Championship
2007 World Women's Handball Championship
The 2007 World Women's Handball Championship took place in France from 2 December to 16 December 2007. It was the 18th team handball world championship for women. A total of 24 teams participated in the tournament...
in France, where the French team placed fifth, her performance was recognized again, and she was selected a member of the All-Star Team together with her Ikast teammates Gro Hammerseng
Gro Hammerseng
Gro Hammerseng is a Norwegian handballer playing for the Norwegian national team and Norwegian club Larvik HK. She has been the captain of the national team for several years, and in 2007 she was voted female World Handball Player of the Year.- Club career :Hammerseng started her handball career...
and Katja Nyberg
Katja Nyberg
Katja Johanna Alice Nyberg , is a naturalized Norwegian handball player, currently playing for Norwegian club Larvik HK as well as the Norwegian national team.- Early years :...
. She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Handball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament
The women's handball tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics is being held from August 9 to August 23, at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium and National Indoor Stadium in Beijing...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, where the French team finished fifth, and she ranked shared second on the Top Goalkeepers list with a 40% save rate.
Results
- Champions League
- Winner: 2006
- EHF Cup
- Winner: 2004
- Cup Winners' Cup
- Winner: 2003
- French Championship
- Winner: 1998, 2001, 2003
- French Cup
- Winner: 2001, 2002, 2003
- Danish Championship
- Gold: 2004, 2006
- Silver: 2007, 2008
- Danish Cup
- Winner: 2004/05, 2006/07
Awards
- MVPMost Valuable PlayerIn sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and member of the All Star Team of the 2003 World Championship2003 World Women's Handball Championship-Final ranking:-All Star Team:*Goalkeeper: *Left wing: *Left back: *Pivot: *Centre back: *Right back: *Right wing: -Top goalscorers:-References:... - Member of the All Star Team of the 2007 World Championship2007 World Women's Handball ChampionshipThe 2007 World Women's Handball Championship took place in France from 2 December to 16 December 2007. It was the 18th team handball world championship for women. A total of 24 teams participated in the tournament...