Helena Elver’s Remarkable Comeback

You may not know the name - but you should know the story. From an elbow dislocation to multiple ACL injuries, Helena Elver has overcome it all.

(Image credit to TV2 Fyn)

The Danish handball player plays for Denmark's national team along with the Hungarian club, Györ, having made a return in March after getting yet another injury in January.

In 2015 she started her career in the world of handball and already in 2017, she made her spot known by switching to the 1st division team, Gudme HK. Though she missed a large part of this season due to her first anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and therefore had to go through surgery and a long rehabilitation.

When she was able to play again, she switched to Aarhus United in 2018.

On the 27th of July 2019, she made her debut on the Danish national team, after having played on the youth national team since 2016.

A year later, in 2020, she switched to the Danish top club, Odense Håndbold. 2020 was also the year for Women’s EHF Euro’s. A tournament she had been put on the team for, but during the warm-up for a test-match against Norway, she suffered her second ACL injury, which meant another surgery and another long rehabilitation.

Before she even got to play on the handball court again, she got her third ACL Injury.

“2021 wasn't my year, but I hope 2022 can be, and that third time's the charm” Helena Elver wrote on her Instagram after having woken up from her third ACL reconstruction surgery.

Finally in November 2022, she got to play again after a two-years absence on the handball court.

Despite her long break, she was still chosen for the 2023 Women’s IHF World Championship, where she helped the Danish national team secure bronze by playing all of the nine matches.

In 2025 she made it to the final of the Women’s EHF Champions League with Odense Håndbold, but lost to the Hungarian club, Győri ETO KC, and after five seasons at Odense Håndbold, she made the decision to switch to the Hungarian club, Győri ETO KC, in the summer of 2025, on a two-year long contract.

She started her journey at the Hungarian club with enthusiasm, even stating that she and the team was aiming to win the EHF FINAL4, but it eventually got overshadowed, when in January 2026 she dislocated her elbow during one of her matches for the club.

It had to be medically treated, so she got transported to the hospital, where her arm was put in a cast. Luckily there were no accompanying injuries.

She quickly got through rehabilitation and got to play again at the end of March 2026.

In April 2026 - despite her small break - she was awarded the very prestigious danish award “Player of the Year for the women’s national handball team”.

“Elver has some quick moves and some x-factor that not many in the world have.” The coach for Denmark's women’s national team explains.

After years of suffering from repeated injuries and setbacks, Helena Elver continues to prove that hard work and resilience can pay off and with her move to Győri ETO KC and a new chapter ahead, she is not only a key-player for Denmark, but she's also one to watch on the international stage of handball for years to come.

Article written by Laura Friis