1. Overview
Luc Kangny Abalo is a prominent French retired handball player, widely recognized for his exceptional career as a right wing. Born on September 6, 1984, in Ivry-sur-Seine, France, Abalo achieved significant success at both club and international levels, earning numerous titles and individual accolades. He was a cornerstone of the dominant French national handball team, often referred to as "Les Experts," which secured an unprecedented series of gold medals in major international tournaments. His career highlights include multiple Olympic, World, and European Championship titles with the national team, as well as numerous league and cup victories with top clubs in France, Spain, and Norway. Beyond his athletic prowess, Abalo is also an accomplished graphic artist, notably designing a wristband for Paris's bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. In recognition of his illustrious career, he was inducted into the EHF Hall of Fame in 2024 and has been honored with the Legion of Honour and the Ordre national du Mérite by the French government.
2. Early Life and Background
Luc Kangny Abalo was born on September 6, 1984, in Ivry-sur-Seine, a commune in the Val-de-Marne department of France. His early handball career began at his hometown club, US Ivry Handball, where he played in the youth system from 1996 to 2002.
3. Career
Luc Abalo's professional handball career spanned over two decades, marked by significant achievements with various clubs across Europe and Asia, as well as an illustrious tenure with the French national team.
3.1. Club Career
Abalo's club career saw him play for prominent teams in France, Spain, Norway, and Japan, accumulating numerous domestic and international titles.
3.1.1. US Ivry Handball
Abalo signed his first professional contract with his hometown club, US Ivry Handball, in 2002, joining their senior team in 2004. In his debut professional season (2004-05), the team finished fourth in the top French league, LNH Division 1, and reached the French Cup final. During the 2006-07 season, Abalo played a pivotal role in leading US Ivry to win the French league championship. His exceptional performances earned him selections for the French league's All-Star team as the best right wing in 2005, 2006, and 2007. He remained with US Ivry until 2008 before moving to Spain.
3.1.2. Spanish Clubs: BM Ciudad Real and Atlético Madrid
In 2008, Abalo joined the Spanish powerhouse BM Ciudad Real, a move he had initially planned for 2007. His time in Spain was highly successful, as he won the Spanish Championship and the EHF Champions League in 2009. He secured another Spanish Championship title in 2010. The 2010-11 season was less fruitful for the team, with their only major title being the Copa del Rey. In 2011, amid financial difficulties at Ciudad Real, there were rumors of Abalo transferring to the German club THW Kiel. However, he ultimately stayed with the team, which then relocated and rebranded as Atlético Madrid for the 2011-12 season.
3.1.3. Paris Saint-Germain Handball
In 2012, Luc Abalo returned to France, joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). This period marked a significant chapter in his career, as he contributed to PSG's dominance in French handball. He won the French league championship in 2013, and then consecutively from 2015 to 2020, securing six more league titles. He also lifted the French Cup in 2014, 2015, and 2018.
In 2020, Abalo initially announced his intention to retire from handball after the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were scheduled for that year. However, when the Olympics were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he reconsidered his decision to retire. As PSG had already secured a replacement for him, Ferran Solé, Abalo sought a new club for the remainder of his playing career.
3.1.4. Later Clubs: Elverum Håndball and Zeekstar Tokyo
Following his departure from PSG, Abalo joined the Norwegian team Elverum Håndball. With Elverum, he continued his winning ways, securing the 2020 Norwegian Cup and the 2021 Norwegian Championship. After participating in the 2021 World Championship in Egypt, Abalo faced challenges returning to Norway due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, which limited his participation to only Champions League matches for Elverum.
In September 2021, Abalo made a move to Asia, joining the Japanese club Zeekstar Tokyo. He played for the Japanese side until 2023, when he officially announced his retirement from professional handball.
3.2. Club Titles and Achievements
Luc Abalo's club career was marked by numerous championship titles and cup victories across different leagues:
- French Championship:
- 2007 (with US Ivry HB)
- 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (with Paris Saint-Germain)
- French Cup:
- 2014, 2015, 2018 (with Paris Saint-Germain)
- Spanish Championship:
- 2009, 2010 (with BM Ciudad Real)
- Copa del Rey:
- 2011 (with BM Ciudad Real)
- EHF Champions League:
- 2009 (with BM Ciudad Real)
- IHF Super Globe:
- 2010 (with BM Ciudad Real)
- Norwegian Championship:
- 2021 (with Elverum Håndball)
- Norwegian Cup:
- 2020 (with Elverum Håndball)
3.3. National Team Career
Luc Abalo's career with the French national handball team is highly distinguished, characterized by an extraordinary collection of medals in major international competitions.
3.3.1. Debut and National Team Participation
Luc Abalo made his debut for the senior French national team in 2005, in a match against Turkey. From that point, he became a consistent and vital member of the squad, contributing to one of the most successful eras in international handball history.
3.3.2. Major International Tournament Successes
Abalo's tenure with the French national team saw him achieve unparalleled success across the three most prestigious international handball tournaments: the Olympic Games, the World Championship, and the European Championship.
He won three Olympic gold medals: at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2012 London Olympics, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021). He also secured an Olympic silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
In the World Championships, Abalo earned three gold medals in 2009, 2011, and 2017. He also claimed three European Championship gold medals in 2006, 2010, and 2014. Notably, between 2010 and 2013, the French national team, with Abalo as a key player, simultaneously held all three major international titles: the Olympic, World, and European Championships, a rare feat in the sport.
3.3.3. National Team Retirement
Luc Abalo officially retired from the French national team in 2021, following the conclusion of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (which were held in 2021). His retirement marked the end of an era for one of the most decorated players in French handball history.
4. Playing Style and Position
Luc Abalo primarily played as a right wing. He was renowned for his dynamic and acrobatic playing style, often described as a "jumping wonder" (SprungwunderJumping WonderGerman). His athleticism, agility, and ability to score from difficult angles made him a formidable offensive threat. He was particularly skilled at executing spectacular aerial goals and possessed a keen sense of timing and positioning, allowing him to excel in his role on the right flank. His consistent high-level performance as a right wing was recognized early in his career, earning him the title of the French league's Best Right Wing for three consecutive years from 2005 to 2007.
5. Other Activities
Beyond his distinguished handball career, Luc Abalo is also an accomplished graphic artist. His artistic talents were notably recognized when the French Olympic Committee commissioned him to design a wristband aimed at popularizing Paris's bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. The wristband proved highly successful, with approximately 1.5 million copies sold by September 2015, demonstrating his influence extending beyond the sports arena into the cultural and promotional spheres.
6. Honors and Awards
Luc Abalo has received numerous individual honors and national decorations throughout his career:
- French Division 1 Player of the Year: 2007
- French Division 1 Best Right Wing: 2005, 2006, 2007
- Legion of Honour:
- Officer: 2021
- Chevalier: September 8, 2021
- Ordre national du Mérite:
- Officer: December 31, 2012
- EHF Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2024
7. Statistics
The following table details Luc Abalo's performance in the French Division 1 league:
| Year | League | Team | Games | Field Goals | Percentage | 7m Goals | Total Goals | Warnings | Suspensions | Disqualifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | French D1 | Ivry | 26 | 121/153 | .790 | 1/1 | 122/154 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 2005-06 | 20 | 80/120 | .667 | 9/9 | 89/129 | 2 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2006-07 | 26 | 107/151 | .709 | 4/4 | 111/155 | 7 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2007-08 | 25 | 124/147 | .844 | 10/12 | 134/159 | 2 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2012-13 | PSG | 26 | 103/170 | .606 | 15/24 | 118/194 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2013-14 | 19 | 49/93 | .527 | 0/0 | 49/93 | 3 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2014-15 | 18 | 61/105 | .581 | 0/0 | 61/105 | 4 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2015-16 | 23 | 72/106 | .679 | 0/0 | 72/106 | 4 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2016-17 | 23 | 66/96 | .688 | 0/0 | 66/96 | 5 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2017-18 | 17 | 46/69 | .667 | 2/3 | 48/72 | 1 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2018-19 | 26 | 66/93 | .710 | 0/0 | 66/93 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||
| French D1 Career Totals (11 years) | 249 | 895/1303 | .687 | 41/53 | 936/1356 | 32 | 57 | 0 | ||
- Bold indicates the highest value in the league for that respective year.
- Official records for the French Division 1 prior to the 2004-05 season are not available, hence they are omitted from these career totals.