Cecilie Leganger
Encyclopedia
Cecilie Leganger (born 12 March 1975) is a Norwegian
team handball
goalkeeper, World champion, Olympic medalist, European champion, winner of Champions League, and World Player of the year 2001.
in 1993, 17 years old, and retired three years later, only 20. In 1993 she obtained bronze medal at the World Women's Handball Championship
, being voted as Best Goalkeeper and Most Valuable Player at the championship. At the European Championship in 1994, she was voted best goalkeeper.
At the 1995 World Championship she was again voted Best Goalkeeper. After a one year break she made comeback as a club player, but did not play on the national team until the 1998 European Championship
, winning gold medal with the Norwegian team and voted as best keeper in the championship. World Champion in 1999
, again voted best keeper. She received bronze medal at the Olympic Championships in Sydney 2000. At the World Championship in 2001 she voted again the best keeper.
n Champion from 2004 (with Krim Ljubljana
), Danish
Champion from 2005 (with Slagelse), and Women's EHF Champion
in 2004/05 and 2006/07. She now plays for Larvik HK
, and is still regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
team 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, World champion, Olympic medalist, European champion, winner of Champions League, and World Player of the year 2001.
International championships
Leganger made her debut on the Norwegian national teamNorway 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 1993, 17 years old, and retired three years later, only 20. In 1993 she obtained bronze medal at the World Women's Handball Championship
World Women's Handball Championship
The World Championship in team handball for women has been organized by the International Handball Federation since 1957.- Championships :- Overall medal count :- Participation history :-Largest winning margin:Source: - External links :*...
, being voted as Best Goalkeeper and Most Valuable Player at the championship. At the European Championship in 1994, she was voted best goalkeeper.
At the 1995 World Championship she was again voted Best Goalkeeper. After a one year break she made comeback as a club player, but did not play on the national team until the 1998 European Championship
1998 European Women's Handball Championship
-Final ranking:Source: EuroHandball.com.Source: Dagbladet....
, winning gold medal with the Norwegian team and voted as best keeper in the championship. World Champion in 1999
1999 World Women's Handball Championship
-Group B:---------------------------------------------------------Group C:---------------------------------------------------------Group D:----------------------------------------...
, again voted best keeper. She received bronze medal at the Olympic Championships in Sydney 2000. At the World Championship in 2001 she voted again the best keeper.
Club player
As a club player she is Norwegian Champion from 1999 (with Bækkelaget), SloveniaSlovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n Champion from 2004 (with Krim Ljubljana
Krim Ljubljana
RK Krim is a women's team handball club from Ljubljana, Slovenia. The club was founded in 1984. It has several times been the Slovenian champion and cup winner...
), Danish
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...
Champion from 2005 (with Slagelse), and Women's EHF Champion
Women's EHF Champions League
The EHF Women's Champions League is an official competition for women's handball clubs of Europe, organized annually by the European Handball Federation . It is the most competitive and prestigious tournament for clubs since the champions of the best national leagues participate on it.- Eligibility...
in 2004/05 and 2006/07. She now plays for Larvik HK
Larvik HK
Larvik Håndballklubb, is a women's handball club from Larvik, Norway. They play in the Norwegian top league for women and they have won the Norwegian Championship thirteen times.- History :...
, and is still regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world.
Awards
- She was voted World Player of the Year 2001IHF World Player of the Year-Men:-Women:-External links:* *...
by the International Handball FederationInternational Handball FederationThe International Handball Federation, often referred to by the acronym IHF, is the administrative and controlling body for International team handball.- Championships :*World Men's Handball Championship*World Women's Handball Championship...
. - Best Goalkeeper in the 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2001 world championships.
- Best Goalkeeper in the 1994 and 1998 European championships.
- Most Valuable Player in the 1993 World championship.
- Goalkeeper of the year 2001 and 2002 in the Norwegian League.
- Goalkeeper of the year 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the Danish League.
- Player of the year 2007 in the Danish League (Selected by the players' committee).