Louise Sand retires from handball after admitting that she was born "in the wrong body"

Swedish handball player Louise Sand, more than a hundred times international with the senior team, has announced his retirement at age 26 after confessing that he was born "in the wrong body".

Sand had initially made his decision on the social network Instagram, although it was later on a podcast where he explained the reason that led her to break the contract she had signed with the French Fleury.

"I've had a very bad time in recent times, I've always known what it was about, what is somehow good, I was born in the wrong body, if I was an anonymous person without minutes on the television screen it would have been much more simple, "said the popular player in the podcast.

Speaking to Swedish public television SVT on Tuesday, Sand said he confessed his problem it has been a "relief" and that he had been meditating his retreat for "a long time".

"I feel very liberated because I do not have to answer questions without having to lie, I've always been a very open person," he said.

Sand, who is part of the international Swedish footballer Emma Berglund, said that after being diagnosed with the disorder, she will now start a hormone treatment, although she did not want to reveal whether she is going to undergo a sex change operation.

The announcement has prompted numerous messages of support in social networks to Sand, who said he felt overwhelmed by the samples of "love" received, from relatives and friends as well as strangers.

After winning several Swedish leagues with the Sävehof, "Loui" Sand went to French handball two years ago to sign for Brest Bretagne, who left this season for the Fleury.

Sand, who plays extreme, sum 105 matches with Sweden, in which he scored 221 goals, and has played seven final stages with his team, with which he won the bronze in the 2014 European Championship.