Voldemaras Novickis

{{Infobox handball biography

| name = Valdemaras Novickis

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| full_name = Valdemaras Alexandrowitsch Novickis

| birth_date = {{birth date|1956|02|22|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kalesninkai, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|01|31|1956|02|22|df=y}}

| death_place = Kaunas, Lithuania

| nationality =

| height = 186 cm

| position = Centre back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Žalgiris Kaunas

| years1 = 1974–1988 | clubs1 = Granitas Kaunas

| years2 = 1988–1989 | clubs2 = BM Puleva Malaga

| years3 = 1989–1990 | clubs3 = VfL Bad Schwartau

| years4 = 1990–1993 | clubs4 = Granitas Kaunas

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 = Soviet Union

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| titleyears1 =

| title1 =

| titleplace1 =

| manageryears1 = 1993–2000

| managerclubs1 = Lithuania

| manageryears2 = 1993–2019

| managerclubs2 = Granitas Kaunas

| show-medals =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{URS}} }}

| module =

| ntupdate =

}}

Valdemaras Novickis (22 February 1956 – 31 January 2022) was a Lithuanian handball player who competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics and in the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Club career

The 1.86 m tall right-hander, who weighed 103 kg when he was playing, began his professional career in his hometown at Žalgiris Kaunas.{{cn|date=January 2025}} After moving to city rivals Granitas Kaunas, he was Soviet runner-up in the 1981 and 1985 seasons, and came third in 1979 and 1986 seasons.{{cn|date=January 2025}} In 1986/87 he led Granitas as captain to win the IHF Cup with two draws (23:23, 18:18) against Atlético Madrid.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportas.lt/straipsnis/istorine-lietuvos-rankinio-pergale-1987-m-ihf-cempionai-kauno-granito-rankininkai-25843 |publisher=www.sportas.lt|title=Istorinė Lietuvos rankinio pergalė: 1987 m. IHF čempionai - Kauno „Granito“ rankininkai (2)|date=6 June 2013|accessdate=31 March 2014|language=Lithuanian}} Just one year later he lost to HC Minaur Baia Mare (21:20, 20:23) in the final of the 1987/88 IHF Cup.{{cn|date=January 2025}} He then moved to Spain to BM Puleva Málaga in the 1988/89 season and from there to Germany to VfL Bad Schwartau, with whom he became champion of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1990.{{cn|date=January 2025}} He did not accept a subsequent offer in Denmark and returned to Lithuania.{{cite web|url=https://www.lrytas.lt/sportas/startai/2020/05/03/news/be-puses-inksto-likes-olimpinis-cempionas-v-novickis-didelio-demesio-negaunu-pamirso--14744873 |publisher=www.lrytas.lt|title=Be pusės inksto likęs olimpinis čempionas V. Novickis: „Didelio dėmesio negaunu. Pamiršo“|date=3 May 2020|accessdate=7 February 2022|language=Lithuanian}} He ended his career at Granitas Kaunas.{{Web archive|url=https://verslas.lrytas.lt/sekmes-istorijos/2012/07/16/news/olimpinio-cempiono-ginklas-tvirta-valia-5250570/ |wayback=20210506185527 |text=verslas.lrytas.lt Olimpinio čempiono ginklas – tvirta valia|date=16 July 2012 }} (lithuanian) retrieved 22 May 2019

National teams

With the Soviet junior selection he was junior world champion in 1977. At the World Championship 1978 he lost with the Soviet men's national handball team to the west German team.{{cn|date=January 2025}} Also at the Olympic Games 1980 in Moscow he had to content with silver; here the Soviet team lost to the East German selection. Novickis' participation was in doubt, having broken his leg just two weeks earlier.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

At the World Championship 1982 he won his first major title. He became world champion with a 30:27 after extra time against Yugoslavia. For the title he received the award Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.{{cn|date=January 2025}} In 1985 he defeated the GDR selection in the final of the Supercup in Germany, where he continued to play despite injuries to his hand and leg. In 1986 he was awarded a ban from the national team for half a year, after his return he was then elected captain.{{cn|date=January 2025}} At the Olympic Games 1988 in Seoul he became Olympic Champion with the Soviet Union.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

He died from cancer in Kaunas on 31 January 2022, at the age of 65.{{cite web|url=https://www.rankinis.lt/anapalin-iskeliavo-legendinis-rankinio-treneris-bei-zaidejas-valdemaras-novickis/|title=Anapalin iškeliavo legendinis rankinio treneris bei žaidėjas Valdemaras Novickis|work=Lietuvos rankinio federacija |language=Lithuanian}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/valdemaras-novickis/|title=Voldemaras Novickis|work=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija|language=Lithuanian}}