Frida Rønning – tough and tender | OneFootball

"She understands the game." This praise comes from a qualified mouth, namely that of Alina Grijseels, Germany's Handballer of the Year. The ''she" in question is 25-year-old Frida Rønning, Borussia's number 30 since last summer. She herself says: "Moving to Dortmund was a really good decision." Recently, her contract was automatically extended by one year. It was the only logical step for both parties. The player's development is too strong, she feels too at home at the club. The Norwegian is staying in Westphalia.

Frida was just six years old when she joined a club, Oppsal Håndball, in her hometown. She stayed for a whole decade, becoming a Norwegian youth championship winner and representing the national team. Frida Nåmo Rønning, as the right-hander's full name goes, is 1.65 metres tall. Her position: centre-back.

Frida, this is your first time away from home. How is that? How do you feel?It's my first time. I played at the same club for 18 years, then I changed, not just to another club, but to another country. That was a big step for me. But I think coming to Dortmund was a really good decision. The city is big, I love my flat. I'm very happy and glad to be here.

How's life in your beloved flat?Oh, I have a very cosy flat with a cool balcony in a central location. It's a good area. It only takes me 20 minutes to get to the city centre. And there are many small cafés nearby. I like it a lot, it's a good quality of life.

That sounds good. What do you miss when you think of home?Naturally I miss my family and friends the most, but that's part of the job. Beyond that, my main regret is that I don't understand every word. I already know some German words, but it will take a while before I understand everything. What I miss most of all is casual small talk, where I can laugh along in the right places... and the snow in winter, of course!

Do you ski? Oh yeah, I do cross-country skiing and a bit of snowboarding too. It's cool when you have a fresh covering of snow. And believe me, we get a lot of snow in Norway.

I definitely believe that. But back to Dortmund: who are your most important people here? Have you already been able to make friends outside the team?I spend most of my time with my teammates. So far, I don't have many contacts outside the team. With our busy schedule of games and travel, it's always difficult to meet new people. Then there's Covid on top of that. But I hope that will change soon.

The focal point of the team and the Dortmund playing style is captain Alina Grijseels. That is well established. It is perhaps more surprising, however, that Germany's Handballer of the Year is also a close personal relation for Frida Rønning; after all, they both play the same position, so they are in direct competition with each other. "Although each of us prefers to play by ourselves, it is a cooperation, not a competition. We help and complement each other. The one who is sitting on the bench gives tips to the one who is on the court. Because you see more from outside. During a game we often exchange ideas, we are a team," says Alina Grijseels - and then goes on to give her teammate the warmest of compliments, the type you used to hear as the ultimate praise on the old WDR TV programme Zimmer frei! (in which contestants searched for a new flatmate): ''Frida is a super nice person, I really like her. She is ambitious and always focused on team success. And she tries very hard when it comes to the language. That shows that she wants to integrate. I have a lot of respect for that. Her whole attitude means she fits in very well at Borussia Dortmund."

The Norwegian always steps up to the plate when needed. When Alina Grijseels was out injured with a broken nose at the beginning of the year, Frida Rønning was there to provide cover. "In that situation, she took on a lot of responsibility. That's no surprise, but I was impressed by how quickly she was able to jump in and find her feet. She has a great understanding of the game.''

Frida, you had to be patient and wait for your chance. How would you rate your first eight months at BVB?At first, I was happy to get a few minutes here and there. At the same time, I always did my best in training to make a case for more playing time. When Alina went down with an injury, it was my time. But the most important thing in team sports is that everyone gives their best and we are successful as a team.

Then on 2 February, you had the home game against Thuringia. Eleven goals from you, an important victory for the team, the perfect combination.That was good and really fun. My way of doing things paid off: I always wanted to prove myself in training, be a good teammate - and then see how much playing time I get in return.

The 25-year-old's development is being keenly watched by André Fuhr and his team. The head coach affirms the commitment and ambition of his number 30: "Frida has developed really well. She is a total professional, a hard worker, and gives one-hundred percent in every training session. And that's despite the fact that she has a difficult role as back-up for Alina Grijseels."

Fuhr respects the fact that she had the courage to take the step from a comparatively small club in Norway to BVB and the Champions League: "She has done extremely well, her progress is clear. She had to wait, be patient, but then, when it was necessary for her to step up, she got the job done. That is a big bonus for us." In light of the long list of injuries our handball players have had to deal with this season, this is a great attribute to have in the squad.

Frida, you also had to cope with two serious injuries at a young age. How did you manage to come back stronger?I had two cruciate ligament tears between the age of 18 and 21. The most important thing was that I gave myself time to recover. I worked patiently both in rehab and in subsequent training. If you're injured, you need patience. And distractions. It was also crucial to have fun outside of handball; for example, to be with friends, to let go sometimes, and then to find the necessary motivation for the hard work required to get back to my old strength. I set myself small steps as milestones on the way; whenever I achieved one and was motivated by it, I could tackle the next one. I think that is a good approach.

How important is strength training in this regard, also as a means of preventing new injuries?Strength training has always been a key part of my success. In Norway, we learned from a very young age that strength training is important for your performance on the pitch. It strengthens you, strengthens your muscles and toughens your whole body. If I hadn't been so fit back then, a cruciate ligament rupture could have been the end of my career. A good physical constitution through strength training increases your protection against new injuries, even if they cannot be prevented in every situation. So for me, it's important especially with regard to my knees.

In this case, prevention is better than cure, as the 25-year-old's time in the recovery room has taught her. It was not until the 2018/19 season that she returned permanently to Oppsal Håndball's first-team squad. Just three years later, she made the move to Borussia Dortmund.

Frida, when we googled you, we noticed that you've always worn the number 30. Is there a particular reason for this?When I was little, I always wanted the number 10, as the Norway international and world handball player Gro Hammerseng-Edin wore the 10, and she was my idol. But as a youth player, we all had high numbers to begin with. So I started with 30 - and that's how it stayed. Now the 30 is mine. I am the number 30.

What goals do you have for the rest of the season, both on a team and personal level?As far as the team is concerned, we want to win every game. At least that's how we're going into it. I think it's important to go into every game with that conviction. For me personally, it's about keeping up my good development and consistently performing on the court. I want to perform well for BVB.

The foundations for this have been laid. Your development is going well - and your contract has now been extended for another season. Looks like you're staying in Dortmund.Yeah, I'm looking forward to another year here - at least another year.

Frida, thanks for these insights. As a Norwegian, we can't finish our conversation with you without asking if you've met countryman Erling Haaland?No, I haven't met him yet. I haven't had reason to. (laughs)

Would you like to meet him? What would the two of you talk about? Well he has a lot to do, and so do I - so I don't think we'll run into each other. But if it should happen, I will certainly say "Hei".  Author: Nils HotzePhotos: Mareen Meyer

The next headline European fixture is on the horizon for the Borussia Dortmund women's handball team, as the Black & Yellows face Metz HB on 26 March for a place in the EHF Champions League Final Four! Tickets for the home game are available from Friday (18 March).