Katalin Pálinger

Katalin Pálinger

Personal information
Full name	Katalin Pálinger
Born	6 December 1978 Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary
Nationality	Hungarian
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	72 kilograms (159 lb)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Nickname	Ginnie
Club information
Current club	Győri ETO KC
Number	16
Senior clubs
0000–2000 2000–2005 2005–2006 2006–2007 2007–2012	Győri ETO KC (HUN) Dunaferr (HUN) FCK Handball (DEN) RK Krim (SLO) Győri ETO KC (HUN)
National team ^1
1997–2012	Hungary	254 (1)
Medal record Olympic Games 2000 Sydney Team World Championship 2003 Croatia Team 2005 Russia Team European Championship 2000 Romania Team 1998 Netherlands Team 2004 Hungary Team
^1 National team caps and goals correct as of 3 June 2012

Katalin Pálinger (born 6 December 1978 in Mosonmagyaróvár)^[1] is a former Hungarian international team handball goalkeeper who plays for Győri Audi ETO KC.

Career

She made her international debut on 22 August 1997 against Romania,^[2] and participated in her first World Championship in that year, however, she finished with the national team only on the disappointing ninth place. One year later, on the 1998 European Championship Hungary performed slightly better and captured a bronze medal, followed by a gold on the next continental event. Pálinger took part on another five European Championships (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010), achieving the best result in 2004 by winning a bronze.

In 2000, beside the European Championship title she has also won an Olympic silver, after losing out in an epic final against Denmark. The Scandinavians faced a six goal deficit with less than fifteen minutes from the match, when the Hungarian team collapsed and the Danes went to win by four and took the gold medal.^[3] Pálinger participated on further two Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008 finishing fifth and fourth, respectively.

In addition, there are two World Championship medals on her success list, a silver from 2003 and a bronze from 2005. The shot-stopper has the experience of six World Championships under her belt, having been participated on every tournament between 1997 and 2007.

Pálinger announced her retirement from international handball on 11 June 2011, following the unsuccessful World Championship qualifying campaign.^[4] She made her farewell appearance on 3 June 2012 against Belarus in a European Championship qualifier.^[5] She currently acts as an assistant coach to the national team.

Achievements

• Nemzeti Bajnokság I:
  • Winner: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
  • Silver Medalist: 2002, 2005
  • Bronze Medalist: 1998, 1999, 2000

• Magyar Kupa:
  • Winner: 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

• Slovenian Championship:
  • Winner: 2007

• Slovenian Cup:
  • Winner: 2007

• EHF Champions League:
  • Finalist: 2009, 2012
  • Semifinalist: 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011

• EHF Cup:
  • Finalist: 1999, 2003

• Olympic Games:
  • Silver Medalist: 2000

• World Championship:
  • Silver Medalist: 2003
  • Bronze Medalsit: 2005

• European Championship:
  • Winner: 2000
  • Bronze Medalist: 1998, 2004

Individual awards

• Hungarian Handballer of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2010

References

1. "Katalin Pálinger Biography and Olympic Results". Sports-reference.com. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
2. "Katalin Pálinger Factsheet" (in Hungarian). Handball.hu. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
3. "2000 Summer Olympics – Sydney, Australia – Handball" databaseOlympics.com (Retrieved on February 13, 2008)
4. "Pálinger visszavonul a válogatottól" (in Hungarian). fn.hu. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
5. "Győzelemmel búcsúztatta a válogatott Pálingert" (in Hungarian). Nemzeti Sport. 3 June 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.

External links

• Katalin Pálinger player profile on Győri Audi ETO KC Official Website
• Katalin Pálinger career statistics at Worldhandball