After twelve years and two Olympic boycotts in Moscow and Los Angeles all world-class handball teams lined up once more for the Olympic Handball Tournament. The men’s tournament again saw twelve teams whereas the number of teams in the women’s tournament increased to eight including a preliminary phase and a main round. And the host profited from years of build-up to that major event in Seoul: The women’s team earned its first ever Olympic gold medal and the men’s team won the silver medal to record their best result to date.
The men’s team earned four victories in five matches to rank at the top of its group ahead of Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and the GDR, all with equal number of points. Due to a better result in the matches between the teams concerned Hungary advanced to the match for third rank. The Soviet Union was predominant in the second group, having gained 10:0 points to be ahead of Yugoslavia by three points. For the first time in Olympic history a 7m shoot-out took place following two extra-time periods in the match for seventh rank between the GDR and Iceland. The Germans sealed a 31:29 victory in the end. The medal matches were less exciting: First, title holders Yugoslavia beat Hungary 27:23 in the match for bronze then the Soviet Union soared to a 32:25 (17:11) victory over Korea to win their second Olympic gold – again headed by coach Anatoli Yewtuschenko. The winning side included world-famous players such as Alexander Tutschkin, Alexander Karshakevitsch, Joury Shevstsov or Georgi Sviridenko. And a young man named Andrej Lawrow who was between the posts. He was meant to go down in history later on as triple Olympic champion.
The women’s teams of Korea, Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, and Norway qualified for the final phase including their preliminary round results. Thanks to two victories over Norway and the Soviet Union Korea secured first rank and Olympic gold – a final match had not yet been staged. Norway gained silver ahead of double Olympic champions Soviet Union and defender of the title Yugoslavia
Men’s Final Ranking:
Gold: URS - Silver: KOR - Bronze: YUG - 4. HUN - 5. SWE - 6. TCH - 7. GDR - 8. ISL - 9. ESP - 10. ALG - 11. JPN - 12. USA
Women’s Final Ranking:
Gold: KOR - Silver: NOR - Bronze: EUN - 4. YUG - 5. TCH, 6. CHN - 7. USA - 8. CIV