Simon Pytlick: Top facts you might not know about Denmark's handball rising star
Did you know that Simon Pytlick’s father Jan Pytlick won two Olympic gold medals as the coach for the Danish women's national handball team? Find out more about the 22-year-old left back.
Handball
Simon Pytlick has already proved that he is one of the most promising talents in handball.
The 22-year-old played a pivotal role in Denmark's national team, contributing to their third World Championship victory in January 2023.
Next year, the Flensburg-Handewitt player is setting his sights on the European Championship, a title Denmark have not won since 2012.
Here are five interesting facts you might not know about Pytlick.
Simon Pytlick: Handball runs in the family
Simon Pytlick was practically destined for a life in professional handball. His father Jan Pytlick has been coaching since 1991 and won Olympic gold with the Danish women's national handball team in both 2000 and 2004.
Pytlick’s mother Berit Bogetoft played handball for GOG, where she won four Danish Championships. She also represented the Denmark national team.
As for his sisters, Camilla Pytlick and Josephine Pytlick, they too are avid handball players: Camilla has played for several teams in the Danish first division, while the youngest sibling, Josephine, competes for a club in the second division.
Jan Pytlick after winning the Olympic gold medal in Athens 2004 with the Denmark women's handball team.
Forced to learn how to swim
In an interview with DR, mentioned that he was never compelled to play handball by his parents.
However, they did insist that he learn how to swim.
Growing up on the tiny island of Thurø, where his grandparents also resided right next to the sea, knowing how to swim was considered essential from a young age.
A product of the talent factory GOG
Pytlick began his handball journey at GOG, when he was 12 years old.
In 2018, at just 18 years old, he earned his spot in the first team and just three years later became team captain.
GOG boasts a rich history of nurturing Danish handball stars, including three-time World Player of the Year Mikkel Hansen, two-time World Player of the Year Niklas Landin, and the MVP at Tokyo 2020 Mathias Gidsel.
Pytlick's accolades at GOG include two Danish league titles and clinching the Danish Cup twice.
Simon Pytlick has played in the Champions League with GOG.
Sharing life with six compatriots across the border
Before the 2023/24 season, Pytlick made a move to the Bundesliga side SG Flensburg-Handewitt in Germany.
Here, the left back always has someone he can converse with in Danish, as his head coach Nicolej Krickau hails from Danmark, along with teammates Kevin Møller, Emil Jakobsen, Johan Hansen, Lukas Jørgensen, Lasse Møller and Mads Mensah Larsen.
The north German team is currently placed fourth in the Bundesliga after the first nine games, with Pytlick having notched up an impressive 45 goals.
The town of Flensburg is located just seven kilometres from the Danish border.
Simon Pytlick: MVP 2022/23 season
Simon Pytlick's status as an established star became evident earlier this year when he received the first-ever MVP EHF Excellence Award for his exceptional performance throughout the 2022/23 season.
He was also recognised as the best left back of the season.
Furthermore, in January at the 2023 World Championship, Pytlick earned a spot on the All-Star team as the tournament's best left back.