Gneist Gymnastics: A Pipeline Of Leadership And Role Models
It was a big night for NextGen Neighbor Network’s “I care.” Ambassadors Ingeborg Krogstad Hystad and Sofia Andersen Karlsen as they represented Norway at the TeamGym European Championships in Finland. Back home in Bergen, their teammates, the younger girls they coach, friends and fellow female role models of Gneist Gymnastics gathered at Gneist Arena to watch the qualification round and give them their full support.
“Gneist Gymnastics has a pipeline of leadership for coaches and role models at every level within the club. More than half of our coaches stem from high performance groups within the club and have a direct impact on the younger generation,” says Bjørn Bjelland of Gneist Gymnastics
Younger girls and a few boys of Gneist Gymnastics were glued to the television screen, cheering and waving Norwegian flags as they watched Ingeborg and Sofia in action. You could feel the excitement from the athletes of all ages gathered together, bonding over shared values and community togetherness.
Ingeborg and Sofia, both 17 and athletes at Gneist Turn, had earned their places on the Norwegian national team through years of hard work, training and the support of their coaches and community. Both have since passed that same support on to younger girls as coaches at Gneist. That is also why their roles as newly appointed NextGen Neighbor Network “I care.” Ambassadors have felt so fitting. Their achievements as athletes are important along with their capacity of taking the lead for social responsibility for the younger generation.
Gneist Gymnastics, Growing Together, Supporting Each Other
For Gneist Gymnastics, seeing Ingeborg and Sofia represent Norway on the European stage is a moment of great pride. What makes their journey particularly meaningful is the role they also play in everyday club life. Alongside their own training and achievements, both girls give their time as coaches for younger gymnasts. For these children, Ingeborg and Sofia are national team athletes they see competing on a screen, but also familiar faces in the gym, people who encourage them, support them and show them what is possible through dedication, friendship and hard work.
Gneist Gymnastics believes that the value of sport reaches far beyond medals and results. It is about creating a safe and welcoming environment where children feel included, develop confidence, build friendships and learn to care for one another.
“We are incredibly proud of Ingeborg and Sofia, for what they have achieved as athletes and for the way they contribute to our club and inspire the younger girls they coach. Having role models who are present in everyday club life means so much. This evening was about celebrating their achievements, but just as importantly, it was about showing the younger generation what friendship, encouragement and supporting each other really look like,” says Miriam Danielsen
NNN Girls Initiative
Through NextGen Neighbor Network’s distinctive “I care.” Campaign, the initiative brings together social innovation and social responsibility in a sustainable model that can be implemented locally, strengthened through community relationships and, over time, scaled to inspire others.
At the heart of the initiative are strong local female role models in sport who mentor and engage with young girls intentionally and consistently over time. The goal is to build nurturing, dependable relationships based on predictability, trust and genuine attentiveness. Those relationships can give young girls the confidence and support they need to grow, belong, aspire and develop what we describe as dual excellence — the opportunity to develop their potential both academically and physically.
An Ecosystem of Relational Welfare
In this way, NextGen Neighbor Network uses sport as a vehicle for inclusion, integration, and belonging for the next generation. It is about creating lasting local impact, encouraging girls to remain physically active, supporting public health, and building communities in which young people are surrounded by adults and role models who continue to show up for them.
That is what made Ingeborg and Sofia such a natural fit for the initiative and why this evening was so exciting for fellow female athletes to come together. It is about shared values that are implemented through the sustainable ecosystem of Gneist Gymnastics and their dedicated leaders and coaches who stand committed to caring for relational welfare.
Together, with the help of female role model athletes and supportive communities, young girls can remain committed to their education and health, while being part of a sustainable cycle of social responsibility and relational welfare. .
“When young girls see what is possible and experience it for themselves, they begin to believe they can achieve it, and mirror the footsteps of the generations that came before them,” says Louise Mohn, Founder of NextGen Neighbor Network
A special thank you to Stefan Grødem Knudsen, Bjørn Bjelland, Lene Solberg, Sunniva kalve Lingjerde, Jonas fotland Fænn, Kristin Sæverås, Amalie Sjursen, Kristine Sjursen, Marte vines , Mats Thomsen, and Marit Østervold.
