According to the renowned expert, the two sports are connected at more points than we think, and he hopes that his experience and knowledge will create new opportunities in training.

Ferenc Gyurkovics served as the head coach of the national team in weightlifting since May of 2016, and in the year 2019 he was also appointed to the lead the junior national team. The 40-year-old professional is currently pursuing specialized studies for a master's degree in Weightlifting at the University of Physical Education, as well as teaching at the same university and the University of Pécs.

- It may be surprising to many that you take on a role as a weightlifting professional at the National Academy of Handball.

- I have always been interested in new challenges, and our talks with Rector Lajos Mocsai suggested to me that we think similarly about sports, and that we attach the same importance to cooperation. I am very motivated; I see an academy and a supportive environment with unique conditions in Balatonboglár. Our goal is to use my professional experience and knowledge gained over the years in service to NEKA. It can be integrated into fitness work and helps the academy's activities. I think this will be a novelty, a real pioneer’s job.

- What are the similarities of the two sports which look completely different at first sight?

- In terms of the ability profile of the two sports, it can be said that in the power-speed-endurance triangle, among the ball games, handball is the closest to weightlifting. Weightlifting has been focusing on dynamic power generation for over one hundred and twenty years, and the best weightlifting is fast, explosive, coordinated, and these requirements are extremely important in handball as well. If we look at today's trends, this is all the more true as handball is moving more and more in a physical and dynamical direction, so the benefits that weight lifting tools can bring are indispensable in handball.

- There are many stereotypes about weightlifting: you often hear that weightlifters are slow, they are muscle-bound.

- In various sports, coaches who have never been weightlifters often teach weightlifting, so even with the best of intentions, they may not know exactly what the proper rhythm of a snatch is, for example, and also, how to build up an ideal trajectory for the weights, and how all of that is to be taught for the competitor. While there are undoubtedly many talented coaches who can learn quickly and easily, as in any field, the devil is in the details. Indeed, there have been many misconceptions even recently, of which the exact opposite is true. A slow weightlifter cannot even reach the level of national team selection, and has to move in an extremely wide motion range, so, to the contrary to common belief, a good weightlifter is not only dynamic but also has good mobility.

Applying the relevant exercises in a handball specific way, we can make its players much more dynamic and powerful.

It is also a common prejudice that weightlifting is harmful to the young body. At this point, most sceptics are envisioning serious weights in the hands of a young player. The problem can only be due to a poorly taught / learned implementation and the result of a not age-appropriate workload. However, this item is true for all sport movements. Let us take the example of jumping off from the plyo box. Arriving on the ground results in a much higher joint pressure than what in weightlifting a 14-year-old can train with, yet no one thinks it is not advisable to use the that box at a young age. When exercising under the supervision of a knowledgeable practitioner, there are only advantages to using the material provided by weightlifting training.

- What problems and dangers can mastering the wrong technique pose and what are the areas of improvement for an athlete if applying it properly?

- It is clear that poor posture can lead to serious problems and injuries. The player possesses special anatomical and physiological features. The task is to improve the dynamic power of the individual with the most appropriate program and special technique. The truth is that the match will be just as good as the training has been. An integral part of preparing a player is fitness training, one of the main components of which is dynamic strength training. If this is also raised to a professional level, the result will be reflected on the playing field in the form of stronger, more explosive players with significantly higher overall performance. It takes time and energy to put on weightlifting techniques because the players who learn them over time will have a huge advantage over their peers. With the same energy investment, they will be able to move more weight more dynamically, resulting in greater physical development. An athlete who can perform such a complex set of exercises under pressure, will reach a higher level of co-ordination which can be used on the handball court as well.

- Is there any experience that shows that weightlifting techniques can be applied to handball players?

- I have worked with first division NB I handball players in Pécs before. At that time, the sport-specific application of weightlifting was not yet complete in my head, but the feedback from the head coach was clear. Already after three months there was a difference in strength between professionals who were required to lift weight in the morning and semi-pros who were unable to do attend the training of weightlifters besides their job activity.

- Will the results show the work that has been done?

- There is tremendous potential in this area, and NEKA is pioneering in that. The key is that the dynamic power development of players shall be built up in accordance with their biological age. For the youngest, the basics of technique, for the intermediate age group, strength and physical condition based on the solid foundations. Only for mature players should maximum strength be developed. Technique and dynamics first, only after that can the intensity, the bigger workload, follow. This order should not be reversed. If the professional team builds the players in close collaboration, they can gain an advantage unequalled. It all serves the players to be the best on the handball field, which will benefit them youngsters.

Weightlifting tools are already actively used in French, Danish or Croatian handball, but watching videos of weightlifting trainings by successful foreign teams, we have every chance to stand out in this area.