For a population of only 333,000 inhabitants (around the same amount of people who live in Cardiff, Bradford or Coventry) they have an incredibly high concentration of great athletes. Here are 10 inspirational Icelandic female athletes that are really setting the standards high for the rest of the world.
7. BJORK ODINSDOTTIR
When the 28 year old isn’t busy training and coaching gymnastic s at Crossfit Nordic, you can see her show off her muscles on swedish television. She stars in a show called ‘The Gladiators’, as a true Icelandic Viking.
6. FREYJA MIST OLAFSDOTTIR
At only 19 years old, this young Crossfitter is definitely one to watch out for in the future.
Between going to school and coaching at Crossfit Reykjavik, she is 2x Junior Nordic Weightlifting champion and already boasts some impressive PRs.
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5. HJORDIS OSKARSDOTTIR
Placing 24th at the open this year, Hjordis Oskarsdottir shows that Crossfit attracts all kinds of different athletes. With a background in football and basketball, the 30 year old is now the headcoach at Crossfit XY.
4. THURIDUR ERLA HELGADOTTIR
Taking 10th place in the Open 2016, this 24-year old athlete has a good explanation for the Icelandic success in international competitions: their natural competitiveness. She has a background in track and field (400m) and trains with Hjordis Oskarsdottir at CrossFit Sport. She has competed as an individual at the CrossFit Games and twice on a team.
Thuridur Erla Helgadottir performing a Clean and Jerk during competition
3. JAKOBINA JONSDOTTIR
The 30-year old studied psychology at the University of Iceland and coaches at Crossfit Reykjavik. She was last covered by us because of her active encouragement of young female talents from Northern Europe. She placed 44th at the Open 2016.
2. DR ANNA HULDA OLAFSDOTTIR
With a PhD in engineering, this impressive crossfitter and european weightlifting champion proves that you can have both brain and brawn. Training at Crossfit Reykjavik, the 30-year old also balances motherhood and the challenge of eating a raw and mostly plant-based diet in Iceland.
1. BIRNA BLONDAL SVEINSDOTTIR
Another impressive athlete from the team of Crossfit Reykjavik, this 28 year old mother and law graduate is especially good at snatching, but proves that she works just as hard on her ‘weaknesses’ like Rope Climbs and Handstand Push Ups on her Instagram.
Featured Image © Girls with Muscle
Bjork Odinsdottir Instagram © Bjork Odinsdottir
Freyja Mist Olafsdottir Instagram © Freyja Mist Olafsdottir
Hjordis Oskarsdottir Instagram © Hjordis Oskarsdottir
Thuridur Erla Helgadottir © All Things Gym
Jakobina Jonsdottir Instagram © Jakobina Jonsdottir
Dr Anna Hulda Olafsdottir Instagram © Dr Anna Hulda Olafsdottir
Birna Blondal Sveinsdottir Instagram © Birna Blondal Sveinsdottir
