Guillemin returns to Hills

It’s been 8 years since Gilles Guillemin played for Hills Handball Club, in that time the man known as ‘Le Frog’ has achieved more than most players will in a lifetime.

Since his departure in 2001 Gilles has been a part of 2 NSWHA League Championships (2003 Surfside, 2006 Taysol HBC), represented NSW at three Senior National competitions, represented Australia at the 2005 World Championships and twice played in the Oceanic Cup of Champion Clubs.

Gilles many recent accomplishment overshadow his excellent commitment to improving the game of handball in Australia, In 2004 he received the Bronze medal of Youth & Sports from the French Government for his involvement in developing handball in Australia (for French players) and continues to be involved in coaching handball at a junior and senior level.

Hillshandball.com sat down with Gilles and asked him a few questions in the lead up to the 2009 NSWHA League season:

It's been 8 years since you played for Hills, what made you decide to return?
“Injuries after injuries, I had to start to listen to my ageing body… So this year, I decided to slow down a little bit. I thought that the best option (and new motivation) for me now was to try to help the “next generation” of Aussie players and so far I am really happy with this choice. I believe that Hills was from far the best team to do this.”

What are your goals for this season in handball?
“1) Have fun and win some games with the “experienced” Hills team and
 2) help the best I can the young players.”

You get to team up again with Innes Briscoe, do you look forward to playing alongside your former teammate?
“It always great to play again with an old mate, particularly with Innes. As a center back I always enjoy playing a lot with the pivot. We’ve played together recently in the tournament in New Caledonia last November and we had god time both in and out of the court.”

You have played 30 games for Hills, can you see yourself reaching the 50 mark for the club?
“Why should at stop at 50 games? Handball has been my “drug” for many years. I think I’ll stop only when I’ll not be able to walk or when I’ll start to embarrass my team mates on the court…”

You have been playing club handball for 23 years, what was your greatest moment?
“26 actually, I was playing in my high school team 1984-1886.

Best moment: 1997, 3^rd and last year of my PhD in France, I was playing for 2 teams at the same time (local championship & company team). With my corporative team IBM Paris, we won both the Championship and the Cup of Paris, this was really an amazing year of handball for me!”