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Sunset at the North Campus © Roland Baege​/​TU Dortmund
Prominent Visit to University Sports

Handball National Team Trains in the Campus Gym

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Group photo of the men's national handball team in the TU Dortmund University gym with the president, chancellor, director of human resources, and director of university sports © Luca Thiel
President Prof. Manfred Bayer (left), together with Chancellor Markus Neuhaus (third from left), Director of Corporate Center Human Resources Maxie Bethge (fifth from left) and Christoph Edeler, Head of University Sports (third from right), welcomed the German handball team to the Campus Gym and wished them success for the international match against Egypt.
In the days surrounding their friendly match against Egypt, the German handball national team completed several training sessions in the Campus Gym (Fitnessförderwerk) at TU Dortmund University. President Prof. Manfred Bayer, Chancellor Markus Neuhaus and Director of Corporate Center Human Resources Maxie Bethge visited the team during training on 19 March and presented a TU branded ball as a welcome gift. The vice European champions were in Dortmund for a training camp and have faced record African champions Egypt in an international match on 19 March in the Westfalenhalle.

While searching for a suitable fitness studio near the Dortmund hotel where the national team was staying, the German Handball Federation came across the Fitnessförderwerk of University Sports online. “Marvin Verwiebe, the organisational manager for the men’s national teams, called me and asked whether the team could train with us, which we were of course happy to make possible,” reports Christoph Edeler, Head of University Sports at TU Dortmund University, about the unexpected call.

On three mornings, the team led by national coach Alfred Gislason used the Fitnessförderwerk for athletic, strength and functional training. “Our excellent equipment and the many machines and training areas immediately convinced the Handball Federation. In addition, there is plenty of space for such a large training group,” explains Edeler.

Top-class Sport and Academic Study

For some players, the environment is not entirely unfamiliar: they know campus life from personal experience, as they are pursuing university studies alongside their athletic careers – albeit at other institutions. Using university sports facilities, however, is something they rarely manage to fit into their everyday routines. Between intensive training sessions, matches and lectures, there is usually little time left.

One example of successfully balancing professional sport and academic study is backcourt player Julian Köster (photo right). The 26‑year‑old completed his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Cologne and is now pursuing a master’s degree at the FernUniversität (Distance-learning University) in Hagen: “I learned very early at home that education is an extremely valuable asset. I am lucky that I can turn my hobby into a profession, but I know that the time as a professional handball player is limited. To ensure a good start into working life after this career, I decided to study in parallel.”

Portrait photo of national handball player Julian Köster

At TU Dortmund University, athletes from a wide range of sports are enrolled – many of them consistently pursuing what is known as a dual career. Combining academic education with elite sport not only creates strong professional prospects but also fosters personal competencies such as organisational skills, perseverance and determination. Describing how skills and experiences gained in sport can help in everyday university life – and vice versa – Julian Köster explains: “In your studies, you also face pressure situations again and again, when you have to be ready on the dot for an exam. I know that from handball – there too, you have to be ready to perform at a specific time on match day. That experience helps me in my studies. Conversely, I learn skills that help me in handball – structured work is a good example.”

As a partner university of top-class sport, TU Dortmund University supports its student athletes on this path and helps them combine academic study and high‑performance sport as effectively as possible.

Matches to Be Broadcast on Free TV

After their training‑camp week in Dortmund, the handball national team have travelled on to Bremen, where another test match against Egypt was scheduled. Both matches were sold out except for a few remaining tickets, but were broadcast live on free‑to‑air television on ProSieben.

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