Remarkable woman, 21, becomes youngest to ski solo to the South Pole in grueling journey
Remarkable woman, 21, becomes youngest to ski solo to the South Pole in grueling journey
Share:
A 21-year-old trailblazer has set a new world record by becoming the youngest person to ski solo to the South Pole. Karen Kyllesø achieved the remarkable feat by completing a grueling 1,133km journey in just 53 days, enduring bone-chilling temperatures that dipped to -40C. The intrepid Norwegian faced off against sastrugi and hauled a sledge weighing 100kg, twice her own weight, across the icy expanse. She takes over from Frenchman Matthieu Tordeur, who previously held the title in 2019 at the age of 27.
Speaking to What’s The Jam, Karen shared her motivation: "For me, the biggest inspiration is dreams and working towards them," adding, "That sense of accomplishment when you complete something hard — it’s a big motivator.". She also expressed her desire to hold both the overall and female records, saying: "It’s great to have a woman up there on that list." Karen embarked on her epic journey on 21 November 2024 via the notorious Hercules Inlet route, known for its challenging conditions, and spent each day skiing through whiteouts and solitude.
Standing at just 148cm and weighing 48kg, she had to increase her body weight by 10 per cent to gain the strength necessary for her arduous journey. "Gaining weight was one of the hardest parts," admitted Karen. "I’m smaller than the average male and I needed extra weight and strength to pull the same load.
