The Victoria and Albert Museum has announced that trailblazing powerlifter and television personality Karenjeet Kaur Bains will join the judging panel for the V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge 2026–27. Bains, widely recognized by television audiences as "Athena" on the hit BBC show Gladiators, brings a unique perspective bridging elite athletics, barrier-breaking representation, and human-centered design to the nationwide competition for young students.
Known for her pioneering career in sports, Bains has consistently broken new ground. Beyond her dynamic presence in the Gladiators arena, she holds the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships junior title and made history as the first British Sikh woman to represent her country at both the European and World championships. Alongside her athletic achievements, she runs an online fitness coaching business aimed at empowering South Asian women to achieve their fitness goals, dismantle societal barriers, and navigate complex challenges.
As a judge for the upcoming V&A Innovate challenge, Bains will evaluate creative entries submitted by student groups in Years 7, 8, and 9 from state schools across England. The annual competition challenges young minds to look at real-world problems through a design lens, encouraging them to propose innovative solutions rooted in this year’s core themes: Simplify, Empower, and Nurture.
Reflecting on her new role, Bains shared her enthusiasm for engaging with the next generation of creative thinkers. She noted that she is particularly looking forward to witnessing the imagination and ingenuity of the students and observing how they approach tangible, real-world problems. Drawing parallels to her own life as a competitive athlete, she explained that high-level sports constantly demand performance improvement, obstacle navigation, and creative problem-solving. By joining the panel, she hopes to instill a sense of confidence in the participants, encouraging them to think outside conventional boundaries and recognize that their concepts possess the genuine capacity to effect positive change in society.
Exploring the Core Themes of Design and Innovation
The 2026–27 challenge centers around three distinct pillars: Simplify, Empower, and Nurture. For Bains, these concepts translate directly into actionable values that shape both daily life and athletic perseverance.
Elaborating on the theme of simplification, she described it as the art of identifying methods to render processes easier, more efficient, and widely accessible. Empowerment, in her view, is fundamentally about supplying individuals with the requisite confidence, instruments, and opportunities to unlock their full potential. Meanwhile, nurturing involves cultivating environments where continuous learning, personal growth, and ongoing development can flourish naturally.
Bains noted that these reflections are deeply informed by her own sporting trajectory. Throughout her career, she has experienced firsthand how vital it is to secure appropriate support networks, maintain unyielding self-belief, and persistently seek avenues for self-betterment. Ultimately, she views the challenge’s themes as a powerful reminder that even modest, seemingly incremental adjustments can yield profound, positive impacts on an individual’s life trajectory.
The Integral Role of Design in Athletics and Everyday Life
When discussing why design matters to her personally, Bains emphasized that design serves as the crucial bridge between abstract ideas and practical solutions capable of elevating human experiences. In the context of competitive sports, the meticulous engineering of specialized equipment, the layout and ergonomics of training spaces, and the integration of athletic technology can make a decisive difference regarding physical performance, safety standards, and overall accessibility.
As an individual perpetually driven to optimize her performance, Bains maintains a deep appreciation for thoughtful design that successfully resolves latent problems—issues that people might not even realize exist until a solution is presented. Furthermore, she stressed that truly effective design transcends mere aesthetic appeal; rather, it is rooted in a profound understanding of human beings and their diverse needs.
When prompted to identify an invention or technological innovation she could not live without, Bains pointed immediately to her smartphone. Balancing multiple demanding roles—ranging from elite athletic training and content creation to managing her online coaching business and staying in touch with international clients—requires seamless organization. For Bains, having an array of sophisticated tools housed within a single portable device drastically simplifies her daily routine, serving as a prime example of how modern innovation streamlines everyday tasks and creates space to concentrate on what matters most.
Expert Advice for Student Innovators
Offering guidance to the young participants embarking on their V&A Innovate journey, Bains offered several practical pointers rooted in her own experiences in high-pressure sporting environments. Her foremost piece of advice is for students to maintain a sense of deep curiosity, embrace creative thinking, and discard any apprehension about making mistakes.
According to Bains, some of the most groundbreaking ideas originate from daring to ask difficult questions, challenging established norms, and examining persistent problems through an alternative perspective. She also underscored the immense value of teamwork, reminding students to actively listen to one another because every individual contributes unique strengths and insights to a collaborative group effort.
Crucially, Bains advised participants not to stress over crafting a flawless concept immediately. Instead, she encouraged them to test their ideas empirically, learn constructively from failures, and commit to continuous iteration. Drawing from her career in powerlifting, she noted that true progress is invariably forged through resilience and a willingness to try again when initial attempts fall short. She concluded with an encouraging message for the young competitors: believe in your ideas, and remember that you do not need to be an adult or a certified expert to make a meaningful difference in the world.
Registering for the V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge
The V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge 2026–27 is officially open, and eligible student groups in Years 7, 8, and 9 from state schools across England are invited to register and submit their entries.
To support educators and students throughout the design journey, the V&A has published a comprehensive suite of resources on its official website. Participants and teachers can access a dedicated theme inspiration pack, alongside specialized Teacher and Student Toolkits designed to guide teams from initial ideation through to final project submission.
Registration details and entry guidelines are available directly through the V&A museum’s educational portal.