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Handball: Hansen leads Denmark to gold, ending 8-year French reign

Related Topics: Mikkel Hansen, Handball, France, Denmark

Denmark’s Mikkel Hansen scored eight goals to end France’s reign as Olympic men’s handball champs at 8 years.

Lasse Svan, Kasper Sondergaard, and Henrik Toft Hansen scored four a piece in the 28-23 win over France on Sunday in Rio.

WATCH: Full match replay

Denmark had not finished higher than fourth at an Olympics, while France beat Iceland and Sweden for gold in the past two Games.

Nikola Karabatic scored five goals for France in the loss.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 21:  Gold medalist Tony Victor James Yoka of France poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's Boxing Super Heavy (+91kg) on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro - Pavilion 6 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 21:  Gold medalist Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's Boxing Fly (52kg) on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro - Pavilion 6 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)