Karen Axelsdottir

Karen has been a member of Optima Racing Team for 2 years and assistant coach for the last year. Karen has been coaching triathlon for the last year, is BTA Level 1 qualified and has been a qualified personal trainer (American Council on Exercise, Level 3) for the last 4 years, training clients in both strength and endurance and taking boot camp sessions. Karen is passionate about the sport of triathlon; a sport that has given her so much joy in every way. Karen finds nothing more rewarding than “turning a group of complete strangers, into athletes and into friends, all facing challenges and reaching goals they could never have imagined”.

Karen took up triathlon in May 2006 and has since then gathered significant training and racing experience and achieved a number of wins and podium results. Karen represented UK at the World Sprint Triathlon Championships in Hamburg 2007 and was Bronze medalist (AG 30-34) and 7th overall. In 2008 Karen was 3rd (AG 30-34) in UK National Olympic Championships. In 2009 Karen was Bronze Medalist (AG 30-34), at European Triathlon Championships. Karen is Icelandic Cycling TT National Champion for the second year running and holds the national record. Thames Turbo 2009 course record holder and more recently was 3rd in her first half IRONMAN. Karen is currently training for her first IRONMAN.