Handball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

2004 Women's Olympic handball tournament
Tournament details
Host country	Greece
Venue(s)	2 (in 1 host city)
Dates	14–29 August 2004
Teams	10 (from 4 confederations)
Final positions
Champions	Denmark (3rd title)
Runners-up	South Korea
Third place	Ukraine
Fourth place	France
Tournament statistics
Matches played	33
Top scorer(s)	Bojana Radulović; (54 goals)
Awards
Best player	Katrine Fruelund

Handball competition at the 2004 Summer Olympics for women took place in the Sports Pavilion at the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex for the preliminary competition. From the quarter-final stage onwards the women's event moved to the Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena.

The women's event involved ten teams split in two groups:
Group A: Brazil, China, Greece, Hungary, and Ukraine
Group B: Angola, Denmark, France, South Korea, and Spain.

Denmark won gold medals after beating South Korea in the final 38-36 after extra time and penalty shoot-out.^[1] This made Denmark the first nation to win three straight Olympic gold medals.^[1]

Medalists

Gold	Silver	Bronze
Denmark (DEN) Louise Bager Nørgaard Rikke Skov Henriette Mikkelsen Mette Vestergaard Rikke Hørlykke Camilla Thomsen Karin Mortensen Lotte Kiærskou Trine Jensen Katrine Fruelund Rikke Petersen-Schmidt Kristine Andersen Karen Brødsgaard Line Daugaard Josephine Touray	South Korea (KOR) Oh Yong-ran Woo Sun-hee Huh Soon-young Lee Gong-joo Jang So-hee Kim Hyun-ok Kim Cha-youn Oh Seong-ok Huh Young-sook Moon Kyeong-ha Lim O-kyeong Lee Sang-eun Myoung Bok-hee Choi Im-jeong Moon Pil-hee	Ukraine (UKR) Nataliya Borysenko Ganna Burmystrova Tetyana Shynkarenko Maryna Vergelyuk Olena Yatsenko Ganna Siukalo Olena Radchenko Olena Tsyhytsia Galyna Markushevska Lyudmyla Shevchenko Iryna Honcharova Nataliya Lyapina Anastasiya Borodina Larysa Zaspa Oxana Rayhel

Qualification

Mean of qualification	Date	Host	Vacancies	Qualified
Host nation	5 September 1997	Lausanne	1	Greece
2002 European Championship	6–15 December 2002	Denmark	1	Denmark
2003 Pan American Games	2–12 August 2003	Santo Domingo	1	Brazil
African qualification tournament^[2]	18–21 September 2003	Luanda	1	Angola
Asian qualification tournament^[3]	23–28 September 2003	Japan	1	China
2003 World Championship	2–14 December 2003	Croatia	5	France Hungary South Korea Ukraine Spain
Total			10

Rosters

Group stage

All times are local (UTC+3).

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Ukraine	4	4	0	99	82	+17	8	Quarterfinals
2	Hungary	4	3	1	118	93	+25	6
3	China	4	2	2	106	90	+16	4
4	Brazil	4	1	3	97	105	−8	2
5	Greece (H)	4	0	4	74	124	−50	0

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Draw.
(H) Hosts

15 August 2004 14:30	China	24–28	Hungary	Sports Pavilion Referees: Aly Hassan, Yasser (EGY)
	Li W. 8	(11–14)	Kulcsár, Radulovics 8
	4× 11×		3× 11×

15 August 2004 16:30	Greece	21–29	Brazil	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Baum, Góralczyk (POL)
	Gioupi 6	(8–14)	Piedade 7
	3× 7×		3× 5×

17 August 2004 14:30	Ukraine	26–21	China	Sports Pavilion Referees: Bretó, Huelin (ESP)
	Rayhel 9	(15-10)	Li W. 7
	3× 5×		3× 4×

17 August 2004 16:30	Hungary	33–20	Greece	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Gardinovački, Marić (SCG)
	Kirsner, Siti 6	(15–9)	Gioupi 8
	3× 4×		3× 8× 1×

19 August 2004 16:30	Greece	13–33	China	Sports Pavilion Referees: Bord, Buy (FRA)
	three players 3	(6–15)	Zhai 7
	3× 7×		2× 4×

19 August 2004 19:30	Brazil	19–21	Ukraine	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Gardinovački, Marić (SCG)
	A. Silva 6	(10–10)	Yatsenko, Lyapina 5
	3× 4×		3× 4×

21 August 2004 16:30	Ukraine	29–20	Greece	Sports Pavilion Referees: Gardinovački, Marić (SCG)
	Lyapina 7	(15–10)	Gkolia 10
	3× 4×		2× 3×

21 August 2004 21:30	Brazil	26–35	Hungary	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Bretó, Huelin (ESP)
	A. Silva 8	(14–19)	Radulovics 10
	3× 4×		3× 5×

23 August 2004 16:30	China	28–23	Brazil	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN)
	Zhai 10	(11–13)	Nascimento 5
	3× 3×		3× 4×

23 August 2004 19:30	Hungary	22–23	Ukraine	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Øie, Togstad (NOR)
	Radulovics 9	(12–8)	Lyapina 8
	2× 7×		3× 6× 1×

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	South Korea	4	3	1	0	135	103	+32	7^[a]	Quarterfinals
2	Denmark	4	3	1	0	125	98	+27	7^[a]
3	France	4	2	0	2	105	106	−1	4
4	Spain	4	0	1	3	86	110	−24	1^[b]
5	Angola	4	0	1	3	97	131	−34	1^[b]

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Draw.
Notes:

^ ^a ^b South Korea 29–29 Denmark
^ ^a ^b Spain 24–24 Angola

15 August 2004 19:30	Spain	24–24	Angola	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Gardinovački, Marić (SCG)
	Puche 13	(14–10)	Belezura, Dionísia 5
	3× 4×		2× 6×

15 August 2004 21:30	Denmark	35–26	France	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Požežnik, Repenšek (SLO)
	Brødsgaard 8	(16–11)	Cendier Ajaguin, Pecqueux-Rolland 4
	4× 3×		2× 3×

17 August 2004 19:30	South Korea	29–29	Denmark	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Bavas, Migas (GRE)
	Woo 8	(14–13)	Kiærskou, Fruelund 7
	3× 7×		3× 3×

17 August 2004 21:30	France	27–20	Spain	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Lemme, Ullrich (GER)
	Lejeune, Tervel 6	(13–10)	Puche 5
	3× 4×		3× 3×

19 August 2004 14:30	Angola	30–40	South Korea	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD)
	Ilda 11	(12–19)	Oh 10
	3× 1×		3× 3×

19 August 2004 21:30	Spain	21–23	Denmark	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Aly Hassan, Yasser (EGY)
	Mangué 6	(8–14)	Thomsen, Andersen 4
	3× 5×		4× 1×

21 August 2004 14:30	Angola	21–29	France	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Bavas, Migas (GRE)
	Ilda 7	(6–12)	Pecqueux-Rolland 8
	3× 3×		3× 4×

21 August 2004 19:30	South Korea	36–21	Spain	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Požežnik, Repenšek (SLO)
	Woo, Lee S 7	(20–7)	Gómez 5
	3× 3×		3× 4×

23 August 2004 14:30	France	23–30	South Korea	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Arnaldsson, Viðarsson (ISL)
	Wendling 8	(13–18)	Lim 8
	3× 3×		3× 4×

23 August 2004 21:30	Denmark	38–22	Angola	Sports Pavilion, Athens Referees: Bavas, Migas (GRE)
	Daugaard 7	(19–8)	Ilda 8
	3× 2×		3× 5×

Knockout stage

Bracket

Quarterfinals		Semifinals		Gold medal

26 August

Ukraine	25
		27 August
Spain	23
		Ukraine	20
26 August
		Denmark	29
China	28
				29 August
Denmark	32
				Denmark (pen.)	38
26 August
				South Korea	36
France	25
		27 August
Hungary	23
		France	31
26 August
		South Korea	32	Bronze medal
South Korea	26
				28 August
Brazil	24
				Ukraine	21

				France	18

5–8th place semifinals		Fifth place

28 August

Spain	27
		29 August
China	23
		Spain	29
28 August
		Hungary	38
Hungary	36

Brazil	31
		Seventh place

		29 August

		China	25

		Brazil	26

Quarterfinals

26 August 2004 14:30	Ukraine	25–23	Spain	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE)
	three players 4	(12–9)	Ortuno 6
	3× 4×		3× 2×

26 August 2004 16:30	France	25–23	Hungary	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Bavas, Migas (GRE)
	Lejeune 6	(10–13)	Radulović 6
	4× 6×		4× 4×

26 August 2004 19:30	South Korea	26–24	Brazil	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Bretó, Huelin (ESP)
	Lee S 7	(16–9)	L. Silva 7
	3× 6×		3× 6×

26 August 2004 21:30	China	28–32	Denmark	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Požežnik, Repenšek (SLO)
	Wang S. 7	(14–18)	Fruelund 7
	4× 5×		2× 3×

5–8th place semifinals

28 August 2004 09:30	Spain	27–23	China	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Aly Hassan, Yasser (EGY)
	García, Puche 5	(16–10)	Wang S. 7
	4× 2×		3× 1×

28 August 2004 11:30	Hungary	36–31	Brazil	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD)
	Radulović 7	(17–14)	Santos 9
	3× 2×		3× 3×

Semifinals

27 August 2004 19:30	France	31–32	South Korea	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Øie, Togstad (NOR)
	Pecqueux-Rolland, Cano 6	(10–13)	Lee G 7
	3× 4×		3× 3×

27 August 2004 21:30	Ukraine	20–29	Denmark	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Lemme, Ullrich (GER)
	Lyapina 5	(11–13)	Fruelund 9
	4× 4×		3× 2×

Ninth place game

26 August 2004 12:30	Greece	23–38	Angola	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN)
	Potari 6	(11–18)	Ilda 8
	3× 3×		3× 2×

Seventh place game

29 August 2004 08:30	China	25–26	Brazil	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Bretó, Huelin (ESP)
	Li W. 7	(10–13)	A. Silva 6
	4× 2×		3× 3×

Fifth place game

29 August 2004 14:30	Spain	29–38	Hungary	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN)
	Puche 7	(15–22)	Radulović 10
	3× 3×		3× 6×

Bronze medal game

28 August 2004 16:30	Ukraine	21–18	France	Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena Referees: Požežnik, Repenšek (SLO)
	Vergelyuk 6	(10–10)	Lejeune 7
	4× 8× 1×		3× 2×

Gold medal game

29 August 2004 10:45	Denmark	38–36 (ET)	South Korea	Helliniko Indoor Arena Referees: Baum, Góralczyk (POL)
	Fruelund 15	(14–14)	Lee S 9
	3× 1×		4× 4×
	FT: 25–25 ET: 4–4, 5–5 Pen: 4–2

Ranking and statistics

Final ranking

Rank	Team
	Denmark
	South Korea
	Ukraine
4	France
5	Hungary
6	Spain
7	Brazil
8	China
9	Angola
10	Greece

All-Star Team

Goalkeeper: Rikke Schmidt (DEN)
Left wing: Line Daugaard (DEN)
Left back: Katrine Fruelund (DEN)
Pivot: Véronique Pecqueux-Rolland (FRA)
Centre back: Lee Sang-eun (KOR)
Right back: Maryna Vergelyuk (UKR)
Right wing: Woo Sun-hee (KOR)

Source: IHF

Top goalscorers


Rank	Name	Team	Goals	Shots	%
1	Bojana Radulović	Hungary	54	96	56
2	Katrine Fruelund	Denmark	50	73	68
3	Lee Sang-eun	South Korea	44	60	73
4	Aline Silva	Brazil	40	70	57
5	Ilda Bengue	Angola	38	60	63
6	Woo Sun-hee	South Korea	37	50	74
7	Leila Lejeune	France	36	72	50
8	Nataliya Lyapina	Ukraine	35	46	76
9	Montserrat Puche	Spain	34	47	72
10	Li Weiwei	China	32	62	52
10	Chao Zhai	China	32	70	46

Top goalkeepers

Rank	Name	Team	%	Saves	Shots
1	Rikke Schmidt	Denmark	44	86	195
2	Nataliya Borysenko	Ukraine	43	59	136
3	Darly de Paula	Brazil	40	34	85
3	Katalin Palinger	Hungary	40	97	240
5	Odete Tavares	Angola	39	28	71
6	Karin Mortensen	Denmark	37	36	97
6	Eugenia Sánchez	Spain	37	64	172
8	Valerie Nicolas	France	36	57	157
9	Chana Masson	Brazil	35	76	217
9	Oh Yong-ran	South Korea	35	78	224

References

"2004 Athens Olympic Games – Official results book" (PDF). IHF. Retrieved 25 July 2009.

^ ^a ^b Martin Kampmann (19 December 2013). "VIDEO Dramaet over alle dramaer – OL-guldet i 2004" (in Danish). Danmarks Radio. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
^ "Torneio Pré-olímpico" (in Portuguese). Angola Press News Agency. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
^ "2003年アテネオリンピックアジア予選兵庫／神戸大会" [Asian qualification tournament for Athens 2004 Olympic Games – Hyōgo/Kobe]. JHA (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 September 2023.

[table_hth_KOR0.71780509209158-4] South Korea 29–29 Denmark

[table_hth_ESP0.71780509209158-5] Spain 24–24 Angola

[DR-1] Martin Kampmann (19 December 2013). "VIDEO Dramaet over alle dramaer – OL-guldet i 2004" (in Danish). Danmarks Radio. Retrieved 15 May 2025.

[ANGOP-2] "Torneio Pré-olímpico" (in Portuguese). Angola Press News Agency. Retrieved 2025-03-11.

[3] "2003年アテネオリンピックアジア予選兵庫／神戸大会" [Asian qualification tournament for Athens 2004 Olympic Games – Hyōgo/Kobe]. JHA (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 September 2023.

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