In brief
A handful of elite runners from seven nations converged on the geographic North Pole for a unique race on drifting sea ice. The competition took place on a 1,055‑metre loop beneath the frigidity of the Arctic. Denmark’s Rikke Dam claimed the women’s title in 6:54:02, while China’s Wang Shengxian won the men’s event in 3:52:22. The event, dubbed the “world’s coolest marathon”, showcased extreme endurance amid shifting ice floes.
Twenty-three athletes from seven countries converged on the geographic North Pole to run a 1,055‑metre loop over fragile sea ice.
They boarded the French polar vessel Le Commandant Charcot, stepped onto the frozen sea, and completed several laps in thermal gear and life vests.
Denmark’s Rikke Dam crossed the finish line in 6:54:02, winning the women’s race, while Wang Shengxian from China finished the men’s event in 3:52:22.
In what organisers described as the “world’s coolest marathon”, the competition tested endurance against extreme cold and shifting ice.
