Marit Breivik

Marit Breivik (born 10 April 1955) is a Norwegian former handball player and coach. She is one of the most decorated national team coaches in handball history and won thirteen championship medals with the Norwegian women's national handball team during a fifteen-year reign, including the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the World Championship in 1999, and the European Championship in 1998, 2004, 2006 and 2008. Breivik won three Norwegian national championships and two league titles during her career as a player.

Breivik is known for her calm, controlled coaching style, knowledge of the sport and tactical innovations. She is noted for her philosophy of including the players in the tactical decision-making and considered a pioneer of the tactical move of swapping the goalkeeper for an extra outfield player during attacks.

Club career Breivik began her playing career for local team SK Nessegutten and later played for Nordstrand IF. During the 1970s and 1980s, she played for Skogn IL, where she won three Norwegian national championships and two league titles. Breivik became the head coach for the Norwegian women's national team in 1994.

In January 2009, Breivik announced her decision to step down as national coach. Following her departure from the national team, Breivik was appointed at the Olympiatoppen, first as head coach for team sports and later as Deputy Director of Elite Sport and Head of Summer Sports, until her retirement in 2022.

Achievements Olympic Games 1996: 4th 2000: 3rd 2008: 1st

World Championships 1995: 4th 1997: 2nd 1999: 1st 2001: 2nd 2003: 6th 2005: 9th 2007: 2nd

European Championships 1994: 3rd 1996: 2nd 1998: 1st 2000: 6th 2002: 2nd 2004: 1st 2006: 1st 2008: 1st

Awards and recognitions Breivik was awarded the Håndballstatuetten trophy from the Norwegian Handball Federation in 2000.

On 16 March 2009, King Harald V of Norway appointed Breivik Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for her efforts as a role model in Norwegian sports.

Personal life Breivik was born in Levanger. She was married to Niels Hertzberg, the former secretary general of the Norwegian Handball Federation, until his death during a holiday in Brazil on 2 March 2013. The couple had no children, although her husband had a child from a previous marriage. Breivik studied at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences and worked as a high school teacher during her playing and early coaching career.

Breivik represented the Socialist Left Party on the municipal council of Levanger Municipality from 1987 to 1991, but has stated that she votes Labour in national elections.