Viking Blood

May 18, 2018

Andréa Maria Cecil

Iceland has produced a significant number of elite-level athletes for its size.

When Bjork Odinsdottir moved to Sweden, she was struck by natives’ attitudes toward competition.

They liked to compete, she explained, “for fun.”

It was a stark contrast to her home country of Iceland, where competition is life—so much so it could be perceived as a fault.

“It can be really annoying sometimes,” Odinsdottir said with a laugh.

Although she found the Swedes’ viewpoint refreshing, she has since moved back to Iceland.

Odinsdottir
Bjork Odinsdottir during Linda

For nine years, Iceland’s competitive culture has helped it produce a notable number of elite-level athletes considering its size. Some of those athletes are competing this weekend at the Europe Regional in Berlin, Germany.

Since 2009, an Icelandic woman has qualified for the Games every year. The same is true of Icelandic men with the exception of 2013. That same year was the first an Icelandic woman did not stand on the Games podium since 2010. And an Icelandic team has been to the Games every year since 2011.

At this year's Europe Regional at the Velodrom in Berlin, Germany, eight Icelandic athletes are competing as Individuals along with one team, CrossFit XY.

“They’re more competitive than any other athletes I’ve seen in any other country I’ve visited,” said Europe Regional competitor Frederik Aegidius, a Dane who has lived in Iceland for roughly seven years. Aegidius, a three-time Games athlete, is competing in his ninth regional.

Frederik Aegidius
Frederik Aegidius completes a squat clean during Event 2 - Linda.

He trains alongside his Icelandic girlfriend, two-time CrossFit Games champion Annie Thorisdottir. Thorisdottir, who also is competing at her ninth regional this weekend, has qualified for the Games eight times.

Fellow Europe Regional competitor and Icelander Sara Sigmundsdottir partly attributed her country’s ability to produce elite-level athletes to its harsh winters.

“The way we live life,” she said with a shrug.

“And I think the water helps, too,” she added with a grin.

Iceland
The Icelandic landscape (Photo: Daniel Anderson)

The Nordic island country of Iceland—with a population of about 350,000—sits between Greenland and Norway. It is known for its striking landscape that includes volcanoes, lava fields, glaciers and geysers. Its coast is subarctic, and its largest city and capital, Reykjavík, typically sees an average high of 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Residents are accustomed to a life of little sunlight in the winter, when daylight can last as little as five hours.

“It gives you a lot of time to fight depression,” said Icelander Björgvin Karl Guðmundsson, who ended Day 1 of the Europe Regional in 18th place overall. “It toughens you, definitely.”

From a young age, Icelanders are encouraged to be outside and be active, regardless of weather conditions, Aegidius noted.

“They’re more resilient human beings.”

Guðmundsson confirmed as much.

“The conditions are just harsh, so in order to stay in good shape and stay mentally there, we work out,” he explained.

Plus, it’s “cool to be strong” in Iceland, Aegidius added, especially for women.

Unlike many other cultures, Icelandic women do not experience societal pressure to be rail thin or judgement when they are well-muscled.

“Gender equality is farther (along) in Iceland than most European countries,” Guðmundsson said.

BKG
Björgvin Karl Guðmundsson

Women in Iceland are strong and independent, Sigmundsdottir said.

“Not that American women aren’t but American women are more afraid to be strong because they are told they need to be skinny without muscles. CrossFit has proven that’s not true anymore.”

Odinsdottir, who competed at the Games in 2014 as an Individual, expressed similar sentiments.

“As a woman, I never felt any judgement,” the former gymnast said. “I think that helped a lot.”

Not once was she criticized for her ever-present broad shoulders or six pack.

“I never felt like I was different in any way,” Odinsdottir said.

Overall, Icelanders are a strong-minded people, Guðmundsson said.

“It’s the Viking blood that still lives in us.”

*          *          *

Men

Roman Khrennikov (185)

Lukas Högberg (165)

Adrian Mundwiler (164)

Sigardur Þrasterson (155)

Andrey Ganin (153)

Women

Laura Horvath (190)

Ragneidur Sara Sigmundsdottir (185)

Kristin Holte (175)

Annie Thorisdottir (170)

Gabriela Migała (167)

Teams

Team Punt Uit (195)

CrossFit Fabriken (164)

Team Nordvest B (153)

Maxpuls Spartans (149)

Soyuz Team (144)

 

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