Thierry Omeyer (born 2 November 1976) is a retired French Handball, handball goalkeeper. A member of the French national team since 1999, he has won all major titles with the team: world champion (five times), European champion (three times) and Olympic champion twice. He is widely considered to be one of the best handball goalkeepers of all time, and is the third goalkeeper so far to have been elected best player of the world by the International Handball Federation (the two others being Henning Fritz, in 2004, and Árpád Sterbik, in 2005), what he achieved in 2008. In his former club (THW Kiel), his nickname was ''Die Mauer'' (The Wall).

Club career

Omeyer started handball at the age of 9 in Cernay, Haut-Rhin, Cernay (Alsace). In 1994, he joined his first professional club, SC Sélestat HB, Sélestat. His save percentage being up to 50%, he caught the attention of the best club in the French championship, Montpellier HB, Montpellier. Quickly becoming the first choice goalkeeper, he won five championships (from 2002 to 2006) and five national cups (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006). The biggest highlight of his time there is the win of the 2003 EHF Champions League, a title that had never been won by a French club before. In 2006, he decided to leave for a more competitive championship and joined the German club THW Kiel, with whom he won the double, the Bundesliga (handball), championship and the national cup in 2007 and 2008, plus the Champions League in 2007, 2010 and 2012. On 15 April 2014, Paris Saint-Germain Handball, Paris Saint-Germain announced that both Thierry Omeyer and William Accambray were leaving Montpellier in order to join their club next season. Omeyer played his last professional match on 6 June 2019 against Cesson Rennes MHB, Cesson-Rennes, PSG, who had already secured the title, defeated Cesson-Rennes 29-20, which ensured the latter's relegation.

International career

He made his debut for the France men's national handball team, French national team on September 19, 1999 against Romania men's national handball team, Romania.ff-handball.org: France national team
In 2001, he became World Men's Handball Championship, World champion after beating Sweden men's national handball team, Sweden 28-25 (after two extra-times) in the final. In 2008, he became Olympic champion after an excellent tournament where he was voted best goalkeeper with a rate of 41% shots saved all over the competition. In the final, he saved 11 shots out of 39 to ensure France' 28-23 win over Iceland men's national handball team, Iceland. In 2015, he became World Men's Handball Championship, World champion after beating Qatar men's national handball team, Qatar 25-22. He was voted best goalkeeper and the MVP of the tournament.

Individual awards

*Most Valuable Player (Most valuable player, MVP) of the World Championship: 2015 World Men's Handball Championship, 2015 *All-Star Goalkeeper of the World Championship: 2011 World Men's Handball Championship, 2011, 2015 World Men's Handball Championship, 2015 *All-Star Goalkeeper of the European Championship: 2006 European Men's Handball Championship, 2006 *IHF World Player of the Year: 2008

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Omeyer, Thierry 1976 births Living people Sportspeople from Mulhouse French male handball players Handball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics Handball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics Handball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Handball players at the 2016 Summer Olympics Olympic handball players of France Olympic gold medalists for France Olympic silver medalists for France French twins Montpellier Handball players Olympic medalists in handball Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics Officers of the Ordre national du Mérite European champions for France Expatriate handball players French expatriate sportspeople in Germany THW Kiel players Handball-Bundesliga players 21st-century French people