Photo courtesy of Instagram (@polarpreet)
Indian-origin British Sikh Army officer Preet Chandi, who made history by trekking to the South Pole, has broken the world record for the longest, solo, unsupported, and unassisted polar expedition by any woman in history.
BREAKING NEWS – We’ve just heard that @PreetChandi10 has officially broken the record for the longest solo, unsupported, and unassisted polar expedition by any woman in history! The previous female record was 1,368 km skied by Anja Blacha from Germany in 2019. @KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/vjxv1L5qy7
— Team Forces / Team Army (@TeamArmyUK) January 19, 2023
Captain Chandi, also known as "Polar Preet", became the first woman of colour in January last year to complete a solo and unsupported 700-mile trip to the South Pole in just 40 days, five days ahead of her finishing schedule.
Chandi is the third fastest female solo skier for the expedition behind Johanna Davidson of Sweden and Britain's Hannah McKeand. She is also the first person to reach the South Pole on foot in two years, the Guardian reported.
"The British Army is extremely proud to have such a remarkable ambassador. Captain Chandi embodies the qualities we seek of all who serve - courage, commitment, and the want to be the best we can be," said Lieutenant General Sharon Nesmith, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, British Army.
"Inspiration for all, especially young girls, to push personal limits and achieve incredible feats," British MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi tweeted.
Antarctica is the coldest, highest, driest and windiest continent on Earth and nobody lives there permanently.
When Chandi reached the South Pole earlier last year, she had said in her blog post: "I don't want to just break the glass ceiling, I want to smash it into a million pieces".
Photo courtesy of Instagram (@PolarPreet)
