Maria Leijerstam

Maria Leijerstam
Born1978
Aberdare, Wales, UK
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Business consultant and owner of Burn Series, a family sporting events company
Known forFirst person to reach South Pole by cycle
Websitemarialeijerstam.com

Maria Leijerstam is a British polar adventurer. In 2013 she became the first person to cycle to the South Pole from the edge of the continent. Leijerstam started her expedition on the Ross Ice Shelf at the edge of the Antarctic continent, and cycled for 10 to 17 hours each day with no rest days, and the total distance cycled was 638 km (396 mi). Leijerstam's cycle was a three-wheeled design, and she reached the pole faster than any previous skiing expedition.