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Two training partners meeting on the mat.Drawn in cream, forest green, and muted terracotta. People and objects are symbolic illustrations.
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Dagný Þóra Gylfadóttir

Often the only woman training, Dagný Þóra Gylfadóttir encouraged newcomers.

Biography

Dagný Þóra Gylfadóttir accepted a friend's BJJ invitation. In 2022, she described challenging shyness and contact, competing for self-challenge and relieving stress; diabetes meant glucose checks and pauses when low. HSÞ's 2024 report named her its martial-arts athlete of the year. It described continued training, often as the only woman, encouragement of newcomers and facing larger opponents at BJJ North's internal Advent tournament in an open blue-belt category. Völsungur separately listed her among its overall 2024 award nominees as its martial-arts woman. Norðurþing announced her appointment as head cook of Húsavík's school canteen in August 2025, with a September 1 start planned. She had worked in kitchens since 2006, including Grænuvellir preschool and the canteen, and at HSN from 2022. Her 2020 food-technician qualification specialized in allergies and intolerances. Vikublaðið's September 2026 report followed seven staff serving 650–680 weekday lunches, breakfasts and snacks. She described task-sharing and absence plans, safe special-diet dishes resembling other children's meals, listening without pressuring children to taste, and seven-week menus to guide purchasing and cut waste. For older residents, she wanted companionship over meals; children's enjoyment gave her satisfaction.

Sources for this profile

  • Vikublaðið, November 2022.(opens in a new tab)

    • After a friend's invitation, she took up BJJ to challenge shyness and discomfort with close contact. She competed for self-challenge rather than medals and reported stress relief from training. With type 1 diabetes, she carried a glucose monitor and paused when low.

      Where in the source: Interview.

      Accessed:

  • Norðurþing, August 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • Norðurþing announced her appointment as head cook of Húsavík’s school canteen in August 2025, with a planned September 1 start. It reported a 2020 food-technician qualification specialising in allergies and intolerances, kitchen work since 2006, experience at Grænuvellir preschool and the school canteen, and food-technician work at HSN from 2022. She had three children.

      Where in the source: Appointment notice.

      Accessed:

  • Vikublaðið, September 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • A September 2026 report followed her work as the school canteen’s head cook. A seven-person team prepared roughly 650–680 lunches each weekday alongside breakfasts and snacks. She described clear task-sharing and contingency planning for absences. She wanted special-diet meals to be safe, appealing and similar to other children’s food. She listened to children’s preferences without pressuring them to try foods. Seven-week menu cycles helped organise purchasing and waste reduction. She described meals for older residents as opportunities for companionship and found satisfaction in seeing children enjoy the food.

      Where in the source: Daily work and meal planning.

      Accessed:

  • HSÞ, 2024 annual report.(opens in a new tab)

    • HSÞ’s 2024 annual report named her its martial-arts athlete of the year. It described her continuing BJJ training when she was often the only woman, encouraging newcomers, and entering BJJ North’s first internal Advent tournament in an open blue-belt category against substantially larger opponents.

      Where in the source: Printed page 33, named martial-arts award.

      Accessed:

  • Vikublaðið, April 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • The April 2025 report listed her as Völsungur’s martial-arts woman for 2024 among nominees for the club’s overall athlete awards.

      Where in the source: Nominees.

      Accessed:

Lineage

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Open lineage