Preet Chandi
Preet Chandi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | Harpreet Chandi 1988/1989 (age 34–35)[1] Derby, England |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
| Other names | "Polar Preet"[2] |
| Occupation | physiotherapist |
| Employer | British Army |
| Known for | first woman of colour to complete a solo expedition to reach the South Pole |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  British Army |
| Years of service | 2008–present |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | |
Harpreet Kaur Chandi[3] (born 1988 or 1989)[1] is a British Army medical officer and physiotherapist. She is the first known woman of colour to finish a solo expedition to reach the South Pole. She finished her expedition on 3 January 2022.[4][5][6]
Military career[change | change source]
Chandi joined the Army Reserves when she was 19 and then the British Army at 27.[1] On 23 March 2013, she was a lance corporal. She received a Territorial Army commission as a lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). She was promoted to captain on 15 December 2016.[7]
She was commissioned into the Army Reserves in 2012 and joined the Regular Army in 2016.[8][9]
Expedition[change | change source]
Chandi began her solo expedition on 7 November 2021, leaving from Antarctica's Hercules Inlet.[10] The journey to the South Pole involved travelling a distance of 700 miles (1,100 km). Chandi was not the first woman to successfully complete a solo expedition to the South Pole, with the journey first being undertaken by Norway's Liv Arnesen.[11] It was not until 1935 that the first woman, Caroline Mikkelsen walked on any part of the Antarctic continent.[12]
Chandi completed her journey in 40 days, 7 hours and 3 minutes,[2] making her the third fastest solo woman to reach the South Pole, behind Johanna Davidsson of Sweden and Hannah McKeand from Great Britain. Felicity Aston was the first solo woman and first person to only use muscle power to complete the challenge taking 59 days.[13]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "British Army officer Preet is in Pole position to break barriers". EasternEye. 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Polar Preet conquers South Pole close to world record". army.mod.uk. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ↑ "No. 60603". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 August 2013. p. 16472.
- ↑ Treisman, Rachel (2022-01-04). "Preet Chandi is the first woman of color to complete a solo expedition in Antarctica". NPR. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ↑ Drury, Colin (5 January 2022). "British army physio becomes first woman of colour to walk solo to South Pole". The Independent. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ↑ Murray, Jessica (5 January 2022). "Preet Chandi becomes first woman of colour to ski solo to south pole". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ↑ "No. 62979". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 April 2020. p. 7765.
- ↑ "Meet Preet Chandi First Woman Of Colour About To Take On A Solo South Pole Trek". She the people. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ↑ ""I am Asian, not what people expect": Derby woman to trek solo to south pole". The Guardian. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ↑ Laura Smith-Spark; Francesca Street. "British Sikh Army officer becomes first woman of color to ski solo to the South Pole". CNN. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ↑ "Army officer completes remarkable solo South Pole trek". BBC News. 2022-01-05. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
- ↑ "Women in Antarctica: Sharing this Life-Changing Experience" Archived 10 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, transcript of speech by Robin Burns, given at the 4th Annual Phillip Law Lecture; Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; 18 June 2005. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ↑ "First female to ski solo across Antarctica". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
Other websites[change | change source]
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