Már Gunnarsson
Icelandic paralympic swimmer
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Már Gunnarsson (pronounced [ˈmauːr ˈkʏnːar̥sɔn]; born 19 November 1999) is an Icelandic Paralympic swimmer and musician. He competes internationally in para swimming in the S11 classification for athletes with severe visual impairments.[1][2]
| Personal information | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Icelandic | ||||||||
| Born | 19 November 1999 Reykjavík, Iceland | ||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||
| Sport | Paralympic swimming | ||||||||
| S11 (Visual impairment) | |||||||||
Event | Backstroke | ||||||||
| Club | Manchester Aquatics Centre | ||||||||
Medal record
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| Updated on 2025-03-16 | |||||||||
Early life and education
Gunnarsson was born in Reykjavík, Iceland[3] with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), resulting in severe visual impairment from birth.[4] At six, his family moved to Luxembourg, where he began classical piano studies under Russian pianist Dina Ziatdinova. Around the age of twelve, he returned to Iceland and started competitive swimming at the local ÍRB club in Reykjanesbær.[5][6]
In 2022, Gunnarsson moved to Manchester, England, where he currently resides, to study piano and composition at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). His studies coincide with his training at the Manchester Aquatics Centre, located near the RNCM campus.[5][4]
Career
Athletic career
Gunnarsson competes internationally as a Paralympic swimmer in the S11 category (athletes with minimal or no sight). In competition, he wears blackened goggles and uses a "tapper"—an assistant who signals turns with a pole—due to his visual impairment.[4]
Before competing at the Paralympics, Gunnarsson participated in multiple major championships, including two European Championships and the 2017 World Championships. His international breakthrough came at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London, where he won bronze in the 100 m backstroke S11.[6][4][7]
Prior to the Tokyo Paralympics, Gunnarsson set a world record in the 200 m backstroke S11, an event not contested at the Paralympic Games.[8] At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, he competed in four events: 100 m backstroke S11, 200 m individual medley SM11, 100 m butterfly S11, and 50 m freestyle S11. His highest placement was fifth in the 100 m backstroke S11 final.[9]
Following Tokyo, Gunnarsson initially announced a retirement from swimming due to burnout but later returned with a revised training approach—narrowing his focus to backstroke events while reducing training volume to balance with his music studies.[4][10]
At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Gunnarsson competed solely in the 100 m backstroke S11, reaching the final and placing seventh while setting a new Icelandic national record.[11] At the Games, he was selected as one of Iceland's flag bearers for the 2024 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony alongside fellow swimmer Sonja Sigurðardóttir.[9]
| Year | Competition | Location | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | World Para Swimming Championships |  London, England | 100 m backstroke S11 | Bronze[12][3] |
| 2021 | 2020 Summer Paralympics |  Tokyo, Japan | 100 m backstroke S11 | 5th[9][3] |
| 2021 | 2020 Summer Paralympics | Tokyo, Japan | 200 m individual medley SM11 | 8th[3] |
| 2024 | 2024 Summer Paralympics |  Paris, France | 100 m backstroke S11 | 7th[11][3] |
Music career
Gunnarsson studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, focusing on piano and composition.[5]
In 2022, Gunnarsson and his sister, Ísold Wilberg, participated in Söngvakeppnin, the Icelandic national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing third with the song "Don't You Know?", which he co-wrote.[13][14]
In 2024, for the Paris Paralympics, he recorded and released the orchestral piece "Spirit in Motion", titled after the Paralympic motto. The piece was recorded with a symphony orchestra in Manchester and was inspired by his experiences as an athlete.[5]
Gunnarsson has also won the Lions World Song Festival for the Blind, a global music competition for visually impaired musicians.[15][16][17]
Advocacy and personal life
Gunnarsson has advocated for improved accessibility, particularly regarding international travel with service animals. After encountering bureaucratic difficulties when travelling between the UK and Iceland with his guide dog Max due to post‑Brexit regulations, he spoke publicly about these challenges to raise awareness.[18][19][20][21]
He is openly gay, having come out publicly after the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[9]
Following the Tokyo Paralympics, Gunnarsson worked as a television presenter for the Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV, and toured Iceland giving motivational talks in schools.[22][non-primary source needed][23][non-primary source needed][4]
Domestically, Gunnarsson has been recognised for his achievements by being named Icelandic Athlete of the Year among athletes with disabilities (Íþróttamaður fatlaðra) in both 2019 and 2021.[8]