Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 27, 2026

Ellen Åkesson

Ellen Brönmark Åkesson is a Swedish powerlifter, arm wrestler, and professional wrestler. She is signed to the American professional wrestling promotion WWE. She has been described as "Sweden's strongest woman".

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Jul 27, 2026
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Ellen Åkesson
Åkesson in 2025
Personal information
NicknameEllen Viking1
Born (1999-03-20) 20 March 19992
Skurup, Sweden34
EducationLinköping University5
Height166 cm (5 ft 5 in)2
Military service
Branch
Swedish Army
UnitSouth Skåne Regiment
Sport
SportPowerlifting, arm wrestling
Medal record
Powerlifting
Representing  Sweden
FISU World University Powerlifting Championships
1st 2024 63 kg
Western European Powerlifting Championships
1st 2024 63 kg
World University Powerlifting Cup
2nd 2023 69 kg
European Classic University Powerlifting Cup
2nd 2023 63 kg
European Bench Press Championships
5th 2025 69 kg
IPF World Classic & Equipped Bench Press Championships
6th 2025 69 kg
Arm wrestling
Representing  Sweden
IFA World Armwrestling Championships
2nd 2024 63 kg (left)
2nd 2024 63 kg (right)
1st 2025 70 kg (left)
1st 2025 70 kg (right)
IFA European Armwrestling Championships
4th 2025 70 kg (left)
3rd 2025 70 kg (right)

Ellen Brönmark Åkesson (born 20 March 1999) is a Swedish powerlifter, arm wrestler, and professional wrestler. She is signed to the American professional wrestling promotion WWE. She has been described as "Sweden's strongest woman".678

Powerlifting career

Åkesson developed an interest in powerlifting at the age of 17 upon being drafted for military service and performing well in an IsoKai isokinetic lift test. She began training at a gym in Skurup.67 She began competing in powerlifting contests in 2021.9 That November, she became the Swedish junior champion in powerlifting, lifting a total of 400 kilograms across bench press, deadlift, and squat.10

In February 2023, Åkesson competed at the Swedish Championships in Skövde in the 63 kilogram weight class, winning gold medals for bench press (lifting 97.5 kilograms) and for classic powerlifting (lifting a total of 425 kilograms across the three lifts).11121314 In March 2023, Åkesson placed second in the European Classic University Powerlifting Cup in Albi, France, setting European University Sports Association records in the 63 kilogram weight class for deadlifting (190 kilograms) and bench press (100 kilograms).915 In October 2023, Åkesson competed in the World University Powerlifting Cup in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, placing second in the 69 kilogram weight class.16

In July 2024, Åkesson won the 63 kilogram contest at the International University Sports Federation World University Powerlifting Championships in Tartu, Estonia, lifting a total of 440.5 kilograms across the three lifts.9161718 In September 2024, she won the 63 kilogram contest at the XV Western European Powerlifting Championships in St. Paul's Bay, Malta, lifting a total of 460 kilograms across the three lifts.916

In February 2025, Åkesson won a gold medal at the Swedish championships in Borås in the 69 kilogram weight class, lifting a total of 490 kilograms across the three lifts.481920 During she contest, she set her records for deadlifting (212.5 kilograms) and squat (162.5 kilograms).921 That same year, she placed fifth in the European Bench Press Championships in Valletta, Malta,9 sixth in the International Powerlifting Federation World Classic & Equipped Bench Press Championships in Drammen, Norway,16 and fifteenth in the European Powerlifting Federation's European Open Classic Powerlifting Championships in Malaga, Spain,16 all in the 69 kilogram weight class.

The Swedish strength sports magazine MAXstyrka named Åkesson its Female Athlete of the Year for 2025.22

Arm wrestling career

In March 2024, Åkesson competed in arm wrestling at the Swedish Championships in Luleå, winning a silver medal.2324 In September-October 2024, she competed in the International Federation of Armwrestling (IFA) World Armwrestling Championships in Loutraki, Greece in the 63 kilogram division, placing second in both the left and right contests.525 In February 2025, she won gold medals at the Swedish championships in Borås in both the left and right contests; the arm wrestling contest began at the same time as the powerlifting contest, forcing Åkesson to rush between the two contests.4192026 In May 2025, she competed in the IFA European Armwrestling Championships in Pärnu, Estonia in the 70 kilogram division, placing third in the right contest and fourth in the left contest.2728 In October-November that year, she competed in the IFA World Armwrestling Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in the 70 kilogram division, winning both the right and left contests.2529 In December 2025, she defeated veteran arm wrestler Petra Damm in a contest at the "Clash of Arms" festival in Solnahallen.3031

Professional wrestling career

In August 2025, Åkesson attended a try-out with the American professional wrestling promotion WWE in New Jersey in the United States during its SummerSlam pay-per-view.3233 In March 2026, WWE announced that it had signed Åkesson to a contract and assigned her to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida in the United States.1343536

Other media

Ellen Åkesson
Twitch information
Channel
Years active2017–present
GenreGaming
Followers112k
Last updated: 30 May 2026

Åkesson began streaming on Twitch in 2017; by 2025, she had over 100,000 followers.3738 In 2023, she founded the marketing company Akessonellen AB.39 In 2023, she took part in the Nordic Fitness Expo in Västerås.40 In 2024, she starred in a billboard campaign in Stockholm for the esports company DreamHack.3

Personal life

Åkesson grew up in Skurup in Skåne County, where as a youth she took part in acrobatics, swimming, volleyball,4142 and circus.4344 In 2016, she was the "Lucia" for Skurup's Saint Lucy's Day procession.4546 She attended Linköping University, studying cognitive science.5131637 She performed military service as part of the South Skåne Regiment.47

References

References

  1. Ohlsson, Jan (28 April 2026). "Ellen från Skurup blir showbrottare i USA: "Som en dröm"". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  2. "Ellen B. Åkesson". StrengthResults.com. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  3. Winell, Erik (20 November 2024). "25-åriga Linköpingstjejen syns överallt i Stockholm". Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  4. Lindgren, Niclas (7 February 2025). "SM-guld – men Ellen blev blåst på firandet: "Fick se till så att han inte svimmade"". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  5. Winell, Erik (16 October 2024). "Linköpingsinfluencerns jättesuccé i Grekland: "Egen hejaklack"". Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  6. Oldberg, Erika (6 February 2025). "Skånska Ellen, 25, är Sveriges starkaste kvinna". Skånska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  7. Oldberg, Erika (3 February 2025). "Ellen, 25, från Skurup är Sveriges starkaste kvinna". Sydsvenskan (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  8. Winell, Erik (8 February 2025). "Linköpingstjejens vilda glädje – starkast i Sverige". Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  9. "Ellen B. Åkesson (F)". OpenPowerlifting.org. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  10. Ohlsson, Jan (22 November 2021). "Ellen från Skurup svensk mästare – på första försöket!". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  11. Nilsson, Claes (5 February 2023). "Lokala sporthelgen – på bara en minut". Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  12. Ohlsson, Jan (5 February 2023). "Ellen, 23, gick ner sju kilo – blev starkast i Sverige: "Själv förvånad"". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  13. Andersson, Marcus (27 September 2023). "Multitalangen från Skurup tar siktet på VM". Skurupsposten (in Swedish). Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  14. Nilsson, Claes (3 February 2023). "Landerydskillen dubbel SM-mästare i udda sport". Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  15. "European University Cup, Albi, France 16th to 18th March 2023". EuroPowerlifting.org. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  16. "B. Akesson Ellen". Goodlift.info. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  17. "FISU powerlifting records broken all week long in Estonia". FISU.net. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  18. "Ellen tävlar i student-VM i styrkelyftning: "Definitivt guldmedalj"". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). 24 July 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  19. Ohlsson, Jan (10 February 2025). "Super-Ellen tog två SM-medaljer – samtidigt: "Varför ta den lätta vägen?"". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  20. "Ellen B Åkessons dramatiska avgörande – två tävlingar samtidigt". Sveriges Television (in Swedish). 9 February 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  21. Räty, Mika (5 April 2026). "Ellen, 27, nostaa penkistä hirmuisen määrän rautaa – nyt aukesi melkoinen tilaisuus". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  22. Ohlsson, Jan (3 January 2026). "Ellen från Skurup utsedd till Årets kraftsportskvinna!". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  23. Amir, Rani (25 June 2024). "Berättar om SM-veckan: "Sjukaste jag varit med om"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  24. Ohlsson, Jan (28 March 2024). "Lokala tjejer tog SM-guld och satte rekord!". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  25. "International Federation of Armwrestling World Championships Results (2020-present)". TheArmWrestlingArchives.com. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  26. Bergsten, Per (9 February 2025). "Linköping fick inte sista skriket i SM-finalen – men de tog guld". Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  27. "Results – right hand – European Armwrestling Championships 2025". ArmSportFederation.com. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  28. "Results – left hand – European Armwrestling Championships 2025". ArmSportFederation.com. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  29. Ohlsson, Jan (3 November 2025). "Ellen, 26, från Skurup starkast i världen: "Känns overkligt"". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  30. Ohlsson, Jan (15 December 2025). "Här tänder Petra till i mästarmötet: "Hon gjorde det avsiktligt"". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  31. Ohlsson, Jan (8 December 2025). "Drömduellen: Vem är starkast i sydöstra Skåne?". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  32. Lambert, Jeremy (4 August 2025). "List of athletes at WWE SummerSlam tryouts". Fightful.com. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  33. Carey, Ian (2 August 2025). "WWE announces MVP of SummerSlam tryouts". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  34. Lambert, Jeremy (11 March 2026). "WWE announces four new Performance Center recruits". Fightful.com. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  35. Carey, Ian (11 May 2026). "WWE announces four new Performance Center recruits". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
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  37. "Fem snabba med Ellen B. Åkesson". Techsajten (in Swedish). 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 May 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  38. Ögren, Vendela (19 March 2025). "Ellen, 25, är starkast i Sverige: "Generad"". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  39. "Akessonellen AB - nytt företag startar i Linköping". Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish). 3 July 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  40. Ohlsson, Jan (24 May 2023). "Fenomenet Ellen från Skurup i nytt landslag: "Värst var nog lösögonfransarna"". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  41. Olander, Ann-Louise (29 November 2016). "Ellen går i täten för Skurups lucia i år". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  42. Stenbäck, Caroline (2 December 2016). "Årets lucia drömmer om att utbilda sig till pilot". Skånska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  43. Engvall, Carl Johan (15 June 2017). ""Det är blandade känslor. Samtidigt som det är vemodigt att lämna ska det bli spännande med något nytt"". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  44. "Cirkus ingen konst för tjejerna". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  45. Olander, Ann-Louise (13 December 2016). "Skurups lucia spred ljus och stämning". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  46. Olander, Ann-Louise (29 November 2016). "Ellen går i täten för Skurups lucia i år". Ystads Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  47. Borglin, Asa (27 March 2019). "Kristianstad har återfått ett "halvt regemente"". Kristianstadsbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 May 2026.
External links