In recent years there’s been an increase in the level of transphobic rhetoric in sports, with athletes at all levels facing questioning, discrimination and barriers to competing in, or just enjoying exercise. GayIceland sits down with Alex Diljar Hellsing from the fitness group Stronger Together to discuss how the group is helping trans and non-binary people feel empowered through exercise.
“Sterkari saman or Stronger Together is a fitness group for trans people,” says Alex Diljar Hellsing, one of the group organisers, when asked what Stronger Together is all about. “Our aim is to create a safer space for trans people to move their bodies, get stronger, practice embodying spaces and maybe most importantly to get a chance to goof around while training.
At the same time, the hope is that this might lay the foundation for a community of queer people interested in fitness that can support each other to overcome obstacles that trans people face when it comes to participation in sports.”
Alex says that usually the group has a strength program combining bodyweight exercises and weightlifting exercises.
“We also try to venture out of our comfort zone on a regular basis and we go and try different sports as a group with guest coaches, many of them are trans themselves. Most recently we got invited to try roller derby, taekwondo and dancing and we had a really good time.”
For a lot of queer people, gyms and exercise classes do not feel welcoming but the ethos at Stronger Together is flexible in its approach and consideration of boundaries, as well as individual ability.
“The events are for trans, non-binary and gender questioning people looking to move their bodies and make new friends,” Alex explains. “We always try to adjust the exercises to each person’s fitness level, so we welcome both beginners and more advanced athletes. Our motto is that each individual is the expert on their own body and boundaries and we are just there to suggest a training program and exercises. Participants are always welcome to alter them, sit out on any of them or do less or more than we have planned. In the end it is all about what feels right to them.”
In other words, Stronger Together prioritises the joy of movement and the benefits that it can bring to everyone rather than taking a performance based approach to sports and exercise.
“The numbers of people that attend practice varies between weeks,” says Alex. “There are usually about seven people at each training, but some days there will be up to thirteen of us swinging kettlebells around.”
I am so thankful to have a space to meet up with members of my community every week where we get to just be ourselves, feel safe, have fun and check in on each other.
The events are a positive space for trans and non-binary people to come together and benefit from exercise and community, but of course the need for these groups is often a response to ingrained barriers or disadvantages. Alex says that the group was founded around the same time that trans people in sport were coming under increasing scrutiny in the mainstream media, after professional swimmer and trans woman Lia Thomas was excluded from competing in any international elite competitions.
“This discourse is only getting worse, as we could see with the attacks against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif at the 2024 Olympic games. We notice a transphobic rhetoric that is brewing in the sports movement in Iceland, with a very few exceptions of some sports such as rock climbing, archery and roller derby.”
Alex says that Sterkari saman is founded around the idea of advocating for trans people in sports and breaking down inequality barriers held up by “the heteronormative, capitalist and neoliberal system we find ourselves wrapped in”.
“We hope to do this through visibility and by providing a space free of charge where trans people can come together to feel empowered in their bodies and less isolated. Another aim is to improve health for a group that is generally ostracized from both the healthcare system and sports participation in general.”
Alex is now one of the group organisers alongside Aró, Elí and Hekla. Elí founded the group to build a sense of community for queer and trans people, later deciding that exercise would be a powerful way to bring people together.
Alex admits that he was reluctant to join at first, but they soon found a place in the group.
“Me and my friend Aró had been meaning to try out Sterkari Saman for a while but it seemed scary at the time to attend an event where we didn’t know what to expect.
It was the first time in a long time that I had such a good time working out, it was a space free of judgment. It turned out that there really is nothing less scary than a group of trans folks doing burpees.
It has also been beautiful seeing other people gain confidence in themselves and blossom during the last months.
Elí and Hekla were keeping the boat afloat at that point and it wasn’t guaranteed that it would continue in the new year. So we asked if we could help out at all, that this really felt important and we wanted to see more of it. The four of us have been organising Sterkari Saman events since then.”
On a personal level, Stronger Together means a lot to Alex, both in terms of supporting them through their own transition and in seeing other people draw strength from the group emotionally and physically.
“I am so thankful to have a space to meet up with members of my community every week where we get to just be ourselves, feel safe, have fun and check in on each other. I have made a lot of really good friends through Sterkari saman!
During some of the first stages of transition, when my world felt pretty turned on its head, this group kept me grounded. Getting to unwind once a week both physically as well as getting supported emotionally, played a major part in getting me through the toughest patches.
It has also been beautiful seeing other people gain confidence in themselves and blossom during the last months. It has brought me such enormous joy to get to be part of organising events that bring happiness to my community.
Getting ripped has also been very meaningful.”
Currently, Stronger Together meets once a week for an hour of exercise and so far the group has been able to access a variety of activities – thanks to collaboration with partners like Afrek.
“Afrek is one of the only fitness stations that has a gender neutral changing room and they have really made us feel welcome, big kudos to them!
We have also been incredibly lucky with collaborators that have invited us to come try out new forms of exercise and different sports. Thus far we have gotten to try roller derby, ice hockey, dancing classes, body combat, taekwondo and hikes.”
Going swimming as a trans person can feel scary, so going as a group has been very healing.
Stronger Together also provides support for trans people to access Iceland’s pool culture. The group have recently started visiting swimming pool Sundhöllin in Reykjavík.
“Going swimming as a trans person can feel scary, so going as a group has been very healing. Be it gossiping in the hot tub or cannonballing of the diving board, it’s just great to be able to participate in the Icelandic pool culture,” Alex points out.
The group hopes to continue working with Sundhöllin and start scheduling regular trips. Last year they received a small grant from Lýðheilsusjóður, which has permitted them to try some new exciting things.
From what Alex is saying its clear that the group intends to carry on the good work. “Trans people belong in sports, and we are here to prove it.”