Birna Kristín Kristjánsdóttir: Iceland’s Rising Long Jump Star

Born: June 30, 2002, Reykjavík, Iceland
Hometown: Kópavogur, Iceland
Events: Long Jump, 60m, 100m, 100m Hurdles, Combined Events
Personal Best (Long Jump): 6.46m (June 22, 2024)
Current World Ranking: #125 (Women’s Long Jump)

A Legacy Written in Footprints

When Birna Kristín Kristjánsdóttir takes her mark at the end of the runway, she carries with her the weight of Icelandic athletic heritage. Born into one of Iceland’s most accomplished track and field families, Birna has spent her career not simply living up to expectations but actively redefining what’s possible for athletes from this small Nordic island nation.

Her father, Kristján Harðarson, represented Iceland at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in the long jump, recording a best distance of 7.09 metres in the qualifying round to finish 22nd overall. Her mother, Geirlaug Geirlaugsdóttir, was a decorated sprinter who competed at the European Indoor Championships twice in the 60m dash and still holds personal bests in relay events from the mid-1990s. With four siblings growing up in a household where athletics was simply part of the fabric of daily life, Birna’s path to the runway seemed almost predestined.

Yet what has set Birna apart isn’t merely her pedigree—it’s her remarkable versatility, competitive drive, and steady improvement that have made her one of Iceland’s most promising track and field athletes of her generation.

Early Years and Record-Breaking Youth Career

Birna’s talent emerged early and emphatically. By the time she was in the under-13 age group, she had already claimed an Icelandic national record in the 60 metres, a sign of the explosive speed that would later translate so effectively to the long jump runway. As she progressed through the youth ranks, the records continued to fall: she captured the U15 national record in the 60m hurdles, demonstrating the technical proficiency and quick-twitch athleticism that would define her multi-event capabilities.

Her international debut came in 2017 at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Győr, Hungary, where 15-year-old Birna gained her first taste of major international competition. The experience proved formative, and she returned to the continental stage at the 2018 European U18 Championships in the long jump, competing against Europe’s best young talent.

Throughout this period, Birna was also making her mark at the Nordic U20 Championships, earning silver and bronze medals in the long jump across three appearances. These performances weren’t merely impressive results—they were statements of intent from an athlete determined to compete at the highest levels.

By the time she graduated from Fjölbrautaskólinn í Garðabæ (FG), the comprehensive secondary school in the Reykjavík metropolitan area known for its strong physical education programs, Birna held a remarkable collection of Icelandic youth records: the 60m (U13), 60m hurdles (U15), long jump (U18 outdoors), long jump (U20 indoors), 60m hurdles (U20 indoors), and the 4x100m relay (U23). She had also competed at the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, and set a national U23 4x100m relay record of 45.75 seconds at a competition in Mannheim, Germany, that same summer.

Collegiate Career at Virginia Tech

In 2020, Birna made the transatlantic leap to Blacksburg, Virginia, joining the Virginia Tech Hokies track and field program. The decision to compete in the ACC—one of America’s most competitive collegiate athletic conferences—reflected both her ambition and her readiness to test herself against world-class competition.

Her freshman year in 2021-22 showcased her versatility. During the indoor season, she competed in the heptathlon at the ACC Championships, demonstrating her commitment to the combined events that require excellence across sprinting, jumping, and throwing disciplines. At the Virginia Tech Challenge, she set a personal best in the 60m hurdles, while the Virginia Tech Invitational saw her achieve a lifetime best in the indoor long jump at 5.66 metres (18’7″).

The outdoor season brought further progress. At the Bill Carson Invite at East Carolina University, Birna recorded personal bests in the 100m hurdles (14.91 seconds), high jump (1.57m/5’1.75″), and shot put (10.73m/35’2.5″)—a testament to her dedication to improving across all combined event disciplines. She also competed at the Weems Baskin Relays and the prestigious Tennessee Relays, continuing to gain experience against elite American collegiate competition.

While competing for the Hokies, Birna pursued her studies in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise—a fitting academic path for an athlete with a holistic approach to performance and wellbeing.

Return to International Competition and Senior Success

Following her time in the United States, Birna returned to focus on her international career with the Icelandic national team, and the results have been nothing short of impressive.

The 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe in Malta saw Iceland post strong results, with Birna contributing to her nation’s efforts. But it was 2024 that would prove to be her breakthrough year on the senior international stage.

At the 2024 Championships of the Small States of Europe in Gibraltar on June 22, 2024, Birna delivered a career-defining performance. Competing against the best women’s long jumpers from the member nations, she soared to victory with a personal best leap of 6.46 metres (+0.7 wind reading), claiming the gold medal and establishing herself as the premier long jumper among the small European states. Malta’s Rachela Pace took silver with 6.28m, while Armenia’s Yana Sargsyan earned bronze with 6.16m.

The jump of 6.46m wasn’t just a competition victory—it represented a significant breakthrough that pushed Birna into the World Athletics rankings at #125 in the women’s long jump, the kind of international standing that opens doors to higher-level competitions.

That same year, she continued to demonstrate her value to the Icelandic national program, contributing to a dominant team performance that saw Iceland win the most gold medals (seven) at the Championships, with five of those golds coming in women’s events.

Recent Form and Continued Development

Birna has maintained her upward trajectory into 2025 and 2026. At a January 2025 indoor competition at Laugardalshöll in Reykjavík, she clocked 7.53 seconds in the 60 metres—her current personal best in that event—demonstrating that her speed continues to develop alongside her long jump prowess.

She has been selected to represent Iceland at the 2025 Games of the Small States of Europe in Andorra, where she is entered in both the women’s long jump and the 4x100m relay. The competition, held from May 26-31, 2025, represents another opportunity for Birna to defend her status as the top long jumper among the small European nations and potentially improve upon her personal best.

Her multi-event background remains an asset. While the long jump has emerged as her primary focus—reflected in her three outdoor national championships and two indoor national titles—her experience in hurdles, sprints, and combined events gives her a technical and physical foundation that many single-event specialists lack.

National Titles and Career Achievements

Birna’s list of national titles reflects her consistent excellence at the domestic level:

Outdoor National Champion (3x): Long Jump
Indoor National Champion (2x): Long Jump

Icelandic National Records Held:

• 60m (U13)
• 60m Hurdles (U15)
• Long Jump (U18, Outdoors)
• Long Jump (U20, Indoors)
• 60m Hurdles (U20, Indoors)
• 4x100m Relay (U23)

International Medals:

• Gold, Long Jump – 2024 Championships of the Small States of Europe (Gibraltar)
• Silver & Bronze medals – Nordic U20 Championships (Long Jump, multiple editions)

Personal Bests

Connect with Birna

Birna maintains an active presence on social media, where she shares glimpses of her training, competition experiences, and life as a professional athlete.

Instagram: @birnakristink (19K+ followers)

She identifies herself simply as “Long jumper 🇮🇸” in her bio—a modest description for an athlete who has become one of Iceland’s most decorated track and field competitors of her generation.

Birna is also a member athlete of ZO•ON Iceland, the athlete management and sponsorship collective that supports Icelandic sporting talent.

Looking Ahead

At 22 years old, Birna Kristín Kristjánsdóttir stands at what feels like the beginning of her prime competitive years. Her personal best of 6.46m, while impressive, suggests there is more to come—the runway to world-class distances (6.70m and beyond) requires the kind of technical refinement and physical development that typically peaks in an athlete’s mid-to-late twenties.

With her Olympic-pedigree family supporting her, her experience in high-level American collegiate athletics, and her growing confidence on the international stage, Birna has positioned herself as Iceland’s best hope for long jump success at future European Championships and potentially the Olympic Games.

For a nation of just 370,000 people—roughly the population of a mid-sized American city—Iceland has produced an outsized share of world-class track and field athletes throughout its history. Birna Kristjánsdóttir appears destined to add her name to that proud tradition. The runway stretches before her, and if the trajectory of her career to date is any indication, she intends to make every step count.

Profile last updated: February 2026