Norwegian 21-Year-Old Becomes Youngest to Reach South Pole Solo

AFP | Norway
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A 21-year-old Norwegian woman has etched her name in the annals of polar history, becoming the youngest person to ski solo and unaided to the South Pole, her team announced on Tuesday.

Karen Kylleso accomplished the extraordinary feat overnight between Monday and Tuesday, completing the grueling 1,130-kilometer (702-mile) journey in just under 54 days.

"It's a page written in polar history," said her mentor, renowned Norwegian adventurer Lars Ebbesen, speaking to AFP.

Breaking a World Record

Kylleso's achievement dethrones Pierre Hedan of France, who held the Guinness World Record for the youngest solo and unassisted trek to the South Pole at age 26. Hedan set the record on January 7, 2024.

Weighing just 48 kilograms (106 pounds) and standing 1.52 meters tall (nearly five feet), Kylleso pulled a sled twice her weight—100 kilograms—through harsh polar conditions. She arrived late Monday night to temperatures plummeting to -25°C (-13°F).

A Lifetime of Adventure

The young Norwegian adventurer is no stranger to extreme conditions. At just 15 years old, Kylleso became the youngest girl to cross Greenland on skis, sparking her ambition for even greater challenges.

"She had barely arrived in Greenland before she asked me: 'Do you think I can also go to the South Pole?'" recalled Ebbesen.

National Pride and Legacy

Kylleso's achievement comes 114 years after her fellow Norwegian, Roald Amundsen, became the first person to reach the South Pole on December 14, 1911, winning a historic race against Britain's Robert Scott.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre congratulated Kylleso, lauding her as "following in the trails of Norwegian polar heroes."

Her journey not only breaks records but also reinforces Norway’s enduring legacy of polar exploration and adventure.

A Remarkable Feat

Kylleso’s trek is a testament to resilience, courage, and determination. Pulling double her weight across one of the harshest environments on Earth, she has inspired adventurers around the globe and set a new benchmark in polar exploration.

As Norway celebrates her achievement, the world marvels at the young woman who has truly redefined the limits of human endurance.