Mowi employee bcecomes youngest person to trek solo to the South Pole.
Karen Kyllesø, a 21-year-old employee of Mowi, has set a remarkable record by becoming the youngest person to reach the South Pole solo and without resupply, reports Norwegian broadcaster TV2.
After a grueling 55-day journey across 1,130 kilometers of Antarctic ice, Kyllesø arrived at the geographic South Pole late Monday evening.
Kyllesø’s mentor, the legendary polar explorer Lars Ebbesen, confirmed her accomplishment at 23:31 local time. “Karen arrived at the South Pole now,” Ebbesen told TV 2.
Starting her final leg on Monday morning with 27 kilometers left to trek, Kyllesø surpassed the previous record held by Matthieu Tordeur, who reached the South Pole solo at 27 years old.
“This is absolutely fantastic—truly a relief,” said Kyllesø’s mother, Lene Karin Egeland Kyllesø, expressing pride and excitement. The family followed her progress from their home in Norway, eagerly awaiting her return to celebrate the historic achievement.
Overcoming Challenges
The journey tested Kyllesø both physically and mentally. Trekking through severe conditions, she faced freezing temperatures, thin air at high altitudes, and challenging terrain. Ebbesen highlighted the difficulty of the final stretch, with snow that felt like “glue” and the onset of cold-induced asthma.
“She was incredibly well-prepared,” Ebbesen noted, pointing out that Kyllesø carried asthma medication despite no prior indication of the condition. Her meticulous planning, he said, was a testament to her determination and focus.
Kyllesø’s South Pole expedition follows years of preparation and earlier accomplishments. At 15, she became the youngest woman to cross the Greenland Ice Sheet, a feat that sparked her ambition for polar exploration.
Balancing her job at Mowi, Kyllesø worked shifts on fish farms while training rigorously for the expedition. Her employer also played a crucial role in supporting her dream, not only accommodating her training schedule but also sponsoring a significant portion of the expedition costs.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre praised Kyllesø’s achievement, likening her journey to those of Norwegian polar heroes like Roald Amundsen. “She’s setting a record at just 21 years old, showing incredible planning, endurance, and courage that we can all be inspired by,” Støre told TV2.
