Teen Up-and-Comer Bergros Bjornsdottir on Heat Stroke, CrossFit Reykjavik, and Getting Third at the CrossFit Games

A new Icelandic queen is on the scene, and her name is Bergros Bjornsdottir. 

At 16-years-old, Icelandic Bjornsdottir has a bronze medal around her neck from the 16-17 Girls division at the CrossFit Games. And while her performance earned her 490 points and a podium finish by the end of the weekend, Bjornsdottir had an intense battle with the Wisconsin sun to get there. 

The first test of the weekend for the age group divisions, a two-part event with the Olympic Total followed by Farmer’s Field, a grueling aerobic chipper with nowhere to hide from the sun, left Bjornsdottir struggling. Despite her best efforts to acclimate and anticipate heat challenges before and even during the competition, she came down with heat stroke and was carried off  the field of play by medical staff. 

• “The physical and mental toll was considerable, testing my resilience yet again,” Bjornsdottir said. With the help of medical staff and her coaches, she was able to formulate a game plan to at least partially recover for the weekend. “Despite setbacks and demanding workouts, I resolved not to allow the heatstroke to hamper my performance.”

Bjornsdottir is no stranger to medical setbacks, though. After the Games in 2022, where she placed 8th in the 14-15 division, she faced a severe back injury that put her months behind in training and forced her to test her mental fortitude and focus on recovery. Then, a sprained ankle during Quarterfinals required similar focus outside of her performance. 

These two obstacles on the front end of her season gave Bjornsdottir a renewed sense of perseverance, she says. 

• “Placing faith in the journey’s progression reaps lasting rewards,” Bjornsdottir said on her tumultuous season. 

All of the challenges of her season came to an end, though, at the CrossFit Games. 

Finally healthy and confident in her abilities, Bjornsdottir knew she had what it would take to make it to the podium. Even with her heat stroke, her practiced calmness under stress led her to a smooth competition. By the end, she stood in third with a bronze medal around her neck and an Icelandic flag behind her. 

• “I was so proud seeing my hard work paying off. I was very proud of myself for getting through all the obstacles this season that came my way,” Bjornsdottir said. 

Bjornsdottir attributes much of her success to the world-renowned gym she goes to: CrossFit Reykjavik. 

Though it’s a two hour round trip every day, she says it’s well worth it to be surrounded by the best in the sport and learn from them. She also says that it motivates her to keep training, and potentially even be in their position someday. 

That day might not be that far off. Bjornsdottir still has an entire year of growth before she ages out of the teenage division, making her an early front runner for the title spot in the 2024 season. Plus, she says that one of the biggest lessons she’s learned so far in her career is to separate herself and her value from her athletic achievements and to prioritize her mental wellbeing. This certainly bodes well for her as she attempts to break into the competitive Women’s division field in the coming years.