Valdemaras Novickis

Valdemaras Novickis (22 February 1956 – 31 January 2022) was a Lithuanian handball player and coach who competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics and in the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Club career

The 1.86 m tall right-hander, who weighed 103 kg when he was playing, began his professional career in his hometown at Žalgiris Kaunas. After moving to city rivals Granitas Kaunas, he was Soviet runner-up in the 1981 and 1985 seasons, and came third in 1979 and 1986 seasons. Just one year later he lost to HC Minaur Baia Mare (21:20, 20:23) in the final of the 1987/88 IHF Cup. He then moved to Spain to BM Puleva Málaga in the 1988/89 season and from there to Germany to VfL Bad Schwartau, with whom he became champion of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1990. He did not accept a subsequent offer in Denmark and returned to Lithuania. He ended his career at Granitas Kaunas.

National teams

With the Soviet junior selection he was junior world champion in 1977. At the World Championship 1978 he lost with the Soviet men's national handball team to the west German team. Also at the Olympic Games 1980 in Moscow he had to content with silver; here the Soviet team lost to the East German selection. Novickis' participation was in doubt, having broken his leg just two weeks earlier. At the World Championship 1982 he won his first major title.

He died from cancer in Kaunas on 31 January 2022, at the age of 65.

Private His son Valdas Novickis is also a handball player.