EHF EURO

Karin Mortensen quits Danish national team

Peter Bruun / ts

17 September 2012, 18:14

Karin Mortensen quits Danish national team

After 233 internationals, two Olympic gold medals and two European championships, Karin Mortensen has decided to end her career in Denmark´s women´s national team.

Following the London Olympic Games this summer at which the Danish women's did not manage to make it further than the preliminary round, Karin Mortensen announced that she wanted to consider her future in the national team. These considerations have now resulted in her decision to end her international career after 12 years in the national team.

“It is always hard to say goodbye to something you have been fond of, but I feel that this is the right time," Mortensen said.

"I am extremely proud to have represented my country during more than 12 years. It has been a privilege to train with the best players in Denmark and to play against the best players in the world. I have had a lot of great experiences with the national team, but I remember the Euro in 2002 and the 2004 Olympics in particular.

"2002 for being European champions at home in Aarhus, and for being the tournament where I went from being a substitute to being awarded best goalkeeper and best player of the competition – and the 2004 Olympics for winning the gold after to extra times,” Mortensen said when announcing her decision.

Respect from the coach

In spite of the fact that he is going to miss his experienced keeper, national coach Jan Pytlick expressed respect for Mortensen´s decision.

“Everything comes to an end. I knew that she would end her career at some point, and I think she has made a very mature decision, for which I have great respect,” Pytlick told the Danish internet site tv2.dk.

Karin Mortensen´s greatest triumphs with the Danish national team were winning the Olympic gold medal in 2000 and 2004 and becoming European champion in 2002.

It is only the national team that Karin Mortensen quits at the moment, as she still has a year left of her contract with the Copenhagen based club FIF in the Danish league.