MYRHOL Bjarte

General
RETIREMENT PLANS
In April 2021 he announced his plans to retire from the sport after competing at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. "Handball has meant everything to me, but I have to take better care of my body than what I do right now. Unfortunately, not a day goes by without pain, and I have slept badly for a long time. Playing handball at the top level with pain is okay for a short period of time, but when it extends over such a long time, it becomes both demotivating and hard, both physically and mentally. The first thoughts of retirement came when I injured my shoulder [in September 2020], and subsequently had to go through surgery and hard rehabilitation. I had trained tremendously well ahead of the season, so it felt unfair to be put out of play that way. My dream scenario is to finish with trophies with Skjern and the Olympic gold with Norway." (skjernhaandbold.dk, 06 Apr 2021)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
In 2020 he and Norwegian ice hockey player Mats Zuccarello established 'Comeback', a fundraising initiative to help youth and children's sports clubs in Norway recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are afraid that the aftermath of the crisis will be great. And that there are many families who, for financial reasons, cannot afford to let their children participate in the same way as before." (handball-planet.com, 11 May 2020)

LEADER
He has served as captain of the Norwegian national team and his club side Skjern Handbold. "I always try to lead from the front as a good example, and that means both in training, practice and during the games. When I talk about my role as a captain, I'm not the guy that screams. I'm trying to show everybody that I'm doing the best I can and I expect everybody to do the same. Leading by example is my way of doing it." (ihf.info, 13 Mar 2021)

INSPIRATION
He says the Norwegian men's handball team have been inspired by the success of the national women's handball team, who won gold at the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012. "The main thing we have learnt from the Norwegian women is professionalism. It's impressive what they have achieved and it's also impressive how they get all this new talent and how they have managed to keep a good team for so many years. Of course we envy them a little bit, because they have won everything, many times, and we are very proud of our women. The whole men's teams have changed a lot in every way since I came up, all the teams are getting more professional. Everything from how many training hours we have, to what we eat, how we travel and in which hotels we stay in, it's got better in all ways." (ihf.info, 13 Mar 2021)

CANCER DIAGNOSIS
He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2011. He underwent surgery and six weeks of chemotherapy treatment, but made a full recovery. After being told of his diagnosis in April 2011, he said. "It was a shock to get the message. But the forecasts are very good and the research has come a long way. I do not see this as a struggle. I am completely calm and sure that it will go well. Handball becomes secondary. Now it's about getting well. I'm sure I'll be back on track." (nettavisen.no, 18 Aug 2011)