Although British extreme athlete Preet Chandi narrowly missed her goal of crossing Antarctica, she is still proud of her achievement. “Mentally, it was difficult knowing I wouldn’t have enough time to traverse,” said the 33-year-old, the BBC reported on Tuesday. “But the expedition was about pushing my limits and inspiring others to do the same. How could I not have continued?”
Chandi completed 1,485 kilometers solo across Antarctica in 70 days and 16 hours. According to the BBC, the physiotherapist set two records at the same time. She is not only the woman with the longest solo polar expedition. The German Anja Blacha, who managed 1381 kilometers, held the record for such an unaccompanied expedition. Chandi also broke compatriot Henry Worsley’s overall record of 1459.8 kilometers, the BBC said. The Guinness Book of Records did not initially confirm either of these statements.
“It was much more difficult than last year’s expedition,” said Chandi. At that time she had hiked solo to the South Pole. “Conditions were tougher this time but I felt it was important to keep going.” She didn’t rest a day and at times only slept five hours. “It feels incredible to have covered such a distance, even though it was always about more than a record,” she said. In the end, she was 100 miles (about 160 kilometers) short of the planned Antarctic crossing.
