Captain Harpreet Chandi becomes first Indian-origin woman to trek solo to South Pole

• Captain Harpreet Chandi, a 32-year-old Indian-origin British Sikh Army officer and physiotherapist also known as “Polar Preet”, has created history by becoming the first woman of colour to complete a solo unsupported trek to the South Pole.

• Preet, 32, a captain with 3 Medical Regiment of the UK Army, announced her history-making feat on her live blog at the end of Day 40 after travelling 1,127 kilometres while pulling a pulk or sledge with all of her kit and battling temperatures of minus 50 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of around 60mph.

• Skiing 1,127 kilometres across Antarctica from Hercules Inlet in just 40 days, 7 hours and 3 minutes – a daily average distance of around 27 km – she came tantalisingly close to setting a new world record by a woman for the trek.

• Already creating history as the first woman of colour to complete a solo crossing on the continent, she narrowly missed out on another milestone, the time set by Johanna Davidsson of Sweden who finished in 38 days, 23 hours and 55 minutes in 2016.

• Preet is now the third fastest female solo skier for this expedition behind Davidsson and Britain’s Hannah McKeand who recorded a time of 39 days, 9 hours and 33 minutes in 2006. 

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