Edda Hannesdóttir: Difference between revisions

Edda was born in 1994 in [[Reykjavík]], Iceland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.triathlon.org/athletes/profile/edda_hannesdottir|publisher=[[World Triathlon]]|title=Edda Hannesdottir}}</ref> She grew up in Iceland and attended the [[University of Iceland]], graduating with a degree in political science.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/edda-hannesdottir-set-to-make-history-as-first-triathlete-from-iceland-to-compete-at-olympic-games|website=[[Olympics.com]]|title=Edda Hannesdóttir set to make history as first triathlete from Iceland to compete at Olympic Games|date=10 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Edda-Hannesdottir|publisher=[[ResearchGate]]|title=Edda Hannesdottir}}</ref> She worked for a time as a journalist before competing full-time in the sport of [[triathlon]], consisting of running, swimming and cycling events.<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto1"//olympics.com/ioc/news/edda-hannesdottir-set-to-make-history-as-first-triathlete-from-iceland-to-compete-at-olympic-games|website=[[Olympics.com]]|title=Edda Hannesdóttir set to make history as first triathlete from Iceland to compete at Olympic Games|date=10 June 2024}}</ref>

Little public funding is available for Icelandic sports, and as such, Edda often paid the costs herself to travel and attend international triathlon competitions.<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto1"//olympics.com/ioc/news/edda-hannesdottir-set-to-make-history-as-first-triathlete-from-iceland-to-compete-at-olympic-games|website=[[Olympics.com]]|title=Edda Hannesdóttir set to make history as first triathlete from Iceland to compete at Olympic Games|date=10 June 2024}}</ref> She trained with the Danish national triathlon team and in 2018, Edda won the women's championship at the [[World Triathlon Aquathlon Championships]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.triathlon.org/news/article/lejeune_and_hannesdottir_crowned_aquathlon_world_champions_in_denmark|publisher=[[World Triathlon]]|title=Lejeune and Hannesdottir crowned Aquathlon World Champions in Denmark|date=12 July 2018|author=Akrigg, Courtney}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://breidablik.is/2019/04/10/gudlaug-edda-hannesdottir-til-lids-vid-breidablik/|publisher=[[Breiðablik (sports club)|Breiðablik]]|date=10 April 2019|language=Icelandic|trans-title=Guðlaug Edda Hannesdóttir joins Breiðablik|title=Guðlaug Edda Hannesdóttir til liðs við Breiðablik}}</ref> The following year, she joined the Icelandic athletic club [[Breiðablik (sports club)|Breiðablik]].<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto"//breidablik.is/2019/04/10/gudlaug-edda-hannesdottir-til-lids-vid-breidablik/|publisher=[[Breiðablik (sports club)|Breiðablik]]|date=10 April 2019|language=Icelandic|trans-title=Guðlaug Edda Hannesdóttir joins Breiðablik|title=Guðlaug Edda Hannesdóttir til liðs við Breiðablik}}</ref> In 2020, she won the Icelandic national championship in the [[10K run]] with the all-time second-best mark at the competition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ufa.is/is/frettir/gudlaug-edda-og-sigurdur-islandsmeistarar-i-10-km-hlaupi|website=UFA.is|title=Guðlaug Edda og Sigurður Íslandsmeistarar í 10 km hlaupi|language=Icelandic|date=2020|trans-title=Guðlaug Edda and Sigurður Icelandic champions in the 10 km race}}</ref>

In 2021, Edda suffered a major injury that required surgery and caused her to miss significant time.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://triathlon.org/news/article/world_triathlon_paths_to_paris_edda_hannesdottir|publisher=[[World Triathlon]]|title=World Triathlon Paths to Paris: Edda Hannesdottir|date=29 June 2024|author=Eastman, Ben}}</ref> She rebounded in 2022, but then suffered a hip injury in early 2023 requiring another surgery, and again resulting in her missing significant time.<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto2"//triathlon.org/news/article/world_triathlon_paths_to_paris_edda_hannesdottir|publisher=[[World Triathlon]]|title=World Triathlon Paths to Paris: Edda Hannesdottir|date=29 June 2024|author=Eastman, Ben}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/ol/2024/05/28/erfitt_og_langt_ferdalag/|newspaper=[[Morgunblaðið]]|title=„Erfitt og langt ferðalag“|date=28 May 2024|language=Icelandic|trans-title="Difficult and long journey"|author=Hróðmarsson, Haraldur Árni}}</ref> She had hoped to qualify for the [[2024 Summer Olympics]], but her injury put it in doubt, with her telling [[World Athletics]] that she remembered "sitting in a hotel bed and I thought 'there's no chance it's going to happen'".<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto2"//triathlon.org/news/article/world_triathlon_paths_to_paris_edda_hannesdottir|publisher=[[World Triathlon]]|title=World Triathlon Paths to Paris: Edda Hannesdottir|date=29 June 2024|author=Eastman, Ben}}</ref> However, she performed well at the Africa Cup in early 2024 and subsequently had a string of successes at competitions: in a five-week span, she won medals at three separate competitions in Asia.<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto2"//triathlon.org/news/article/world_triathlon_paths_to_paris_edda_hannesdottir|publisher=[[World Triathlon]]|title=World Triathlon Paths to Paris: Edda Hannesdottir|date=29 June 2024|author=Eastman, Ben}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.icelandreview.com/news/sport/first-icelander-to-compete-in-the-triathlon-at-the-olympics/|newspaper=[[Iceland Review]]|title=First Icelander to Compete in the Triathlon at the Olympics|date=28 May 2024|author=Tómas, Ragnar}}</ref> Her performances significantly improved her worldwide ranking, putting her in the top 180 and in contention for a potential Olympics spot.<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto2"//triathlon.org/news/article/world_triathlon_paths_to_paris_edda_hannesdottir|publisher=[[World Triathlon]]|title=World Triathlon Paths to Paris: Edda Hannesdottir|date=29 June 2024|author=Eastman, Ben}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/frettir/2024/05/06/gudlaug_edda_faerist_naer_ol/|newspaper=[[Morgunblaðið]]|title=Guðlaug Edda færist nær ÓL|date=6 May 2024|language=Icelandic|trans-title=Guðlaug Edda moves closer to ÓL}}</ref> Through applications by the [[National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland]] (ISI), she was ultimately chosen to compete at the 2024 Olympics by the Tripartite Commission, becoming the first Olympic triathlete from Iceland.<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto1"//olympics.com/ioc/news/edda-hannesdottir-set-to-make-history-as-first-triathlete-from-iceland-to-compete-at-olympic-games|website=[[Olympics.com]]|title=Edda Hannesdóttir set to make history as first triathlete from Iceland to compete at Olympic Games|date=10 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/ithrottir/2024-05-27-gudlaug-edda-tekur-thatt-i-olympiuleikunum-413705|publisher=[[RÚV]]|language=Icelandic|title=Guðlaug Edda tekur þátt í Ólympíuleikunum|date=27 May 2024|author=Ástvaldsson, Jóhann Páll|trans-title=Guðlaug Edda takes part in the Olympic Games}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/ithrottir/2024-05-28-thetta-er-algjor-draumur-eg-eiginlega-trui-ekki-ad-thetta-se-ad-gerast-413758|publisher=[[RÚV]]|language=Icelandic|title=„Þetta er algjör draumur, ég eiginlega trúi ekki að þetta sé að gerast“|date=28 May 2024|trans-title="It's a dream come true, I really can't believe it's happening"|author=Jónsson, Einar Örn}}</ref> Along with [[Hákon Þór Svavarsson]], she was named the Iceland flag bearer at the Olympic opening ceremony.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/frettir/2024/07/12/gudlaug_edda_og_hakon_fanaberar_i_paris/|newspaper=[[Morgunblaðið]]|date=12 July 2024|trans-title=Guðlaug Edda and Hákon are flag bearers in Paris|title=Guðlaug Edda og Hákon fánaberar í París|language=Icelandic}}</ref>