From Ironman to the Atlantic: Meet the women pushing the limits of endurance

There are no limits except the ones we place on ourselves. And when it comes to endurance sports, pushing boundaries requires stamina, discipline, and mental resilience.

Several women have taken up endurance sports after life-altering experiences. Some have gone on to prove that age is just a number, and others have balanced their love of sport with demanding careers. What connects them is a willingness to test the limits of their bodies and minds and venture into uncharted territory.

From ultramarathons and climbing mountains to solo ocean crossings, these women’s journeys embody a never-say-die spirit.

Renee Noronha

At just 18, Renee Noronha became the youngest Indian woman to complete an Ironman triathlon by finishing Ironman New Zealand. The Ironman is considered one of the toughest endurance events in the world, combining a 3.8-km swim, 180-km cycling leg, and a full marathon run. She improved on that performance in 2024, completing the Ironman European Hamburg Championship in just 14 hours despite braving a hailstorm. 

A former gymnast and IIT Madras student, Noronha took up endurance sports through years of disciplined training. Competing internationally at such a young age required months of preparation, including intense training schedules in swimming, cycling, and running. 

Noronha has set her sights on a world record: completing Ironman races across six continents before she turns 21. And if that isn’t ambitious enough, she is already looking beyond that goal, towards the Iceman in Antarctica.

Pooja Krishnamoorthy

On January 10, Pooja Krishnamoorthy made history by completing the Brazil 135 Ultra and becoming the first Indian woman to qualify for, attempt, and finish the gruelling 135-mile (217 km) race in its 21-year history.

She completed the race in 48 hours, well within the 60-hour cut-off, placing tenth overall among women across distances and finishing eighth in her category. The achievement put her alongside some of the world’s most seasoned ultra-runners, many of whom were forced to drop out of the punishing race.

A political science graduate from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, she later studied filmmaking and now works in the advertising industry. Her love for the mountains began in childhood, when her mother would send her and her sister, Priya, on treks in the Himalayas. Soon, the sisters began volunteering on these treks, working in exchange for the opportunity to spend more time in the mountains.

Jayashree Vijay Mohan

Stroke survivor Jayashree Vijay Mohan turned a deeply personal battle into an extraordinary feat of endurance. In October last year, she set two Guinness World Records in the CIH (coordination impairment–hemiplegia) category, becoming the fastest female climber to both ascend and descend Mount Kilimanjaro.

After suffering a stroke in 2021, she spent months in rehabilitation, relearning basic movements and coping with the frustration of tasks that had once seemed simple.

Determined to reclaim her strength, Jayashree gradually began pushing her limits through adventure challenges.

Two years after the stroke, she attempted the Everest Base Camp trek, marking the beginning of a series of endurance pursuits that tested both her body and her resilience.

In September 2025, she took on her biggest challenge yet—climbing Africa’s tallest peak. She reached the summit of Kilimanjaro in 5 days, 6 hours, and 50 minutes, setting a record in her category and then descended the mountain in just 10 hours, completing the expedition with remarkable speed and determination. 

Vidya Singh

At 72, Chennai-based Vidya Singh achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the oldest Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 metres. She reached the summit on March 13, 2025, proving that endurance and determination can transcend age.

Vidya’s journey to the summit was not a sudden adventure. A lifelong sports enthusiast, she had been active in tennis, swimming, cycling, and marathon running, and later developed a passion for trekking. Since taking up mountaineering in 2013, she has completed 19 high-altitude treks across India, Bhutan, and South America.

Climbing Kilimanjaro was both physically and mentally demanding. The expedition typically takes around eight days, with difficult sections such as the steep Barranco Wall testing climbers’ endurance and resolve. Vidya recalled the climb as intense but deeply rewarding, especially the moment she witnessed the sunrise from near the summit.

Vasanthy Cheruveettil

At 59, Vasanthy Cheruveettil, a tailor from Taliparamba in Kerala’s Kannur district, trekked solo to Everest Base Camp (5,364 metres). She undertook this journey without formal mountaineering training. 

To prepare for the climb, Vasanthy spent four months training on her own, relying largely on YouTube videos to learn trekking techniques and understand the challenges of high-altitude expeditions.

Her preparation included long daily walks, building endurance in trekking boots, and learning practical skills that would help her navigate the demanding terrain.

She began her trek in February 2025 from Surke in Nepal, walking for several hours each day across steep trails and unpredictable mountain conditions. It took her 10 days to reach Everest Base Camp. The next destination on her bucket list is the Great Wall of China, and she has already started researching it. 

Ananya Prasad

Ananya Prasad, a Bengaluru-born adventurer, made history by becoming the first woman of colour to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She finished the gruelling journey in 52 days, 5 hours, and 44 minutes, securing second place in the solo category of the renowned World’s Toughest Row race. 

She set off from La Gomera in the Spanish Canary Islands on December 11, 2024, and arrived in Antigua in the Caribbean on February 1, completing the transatlantic crossing after nearly two months alone at sea.

Born in Bengaluru, Prasad moved to the United Kingdom at the age of five after her parents relocated there. Although she grew up enjoying outdoor activities, she had no formal background in adventure sports. Her interest in ocean rowing began in 2018 when she came across the Atlantic rowing race and was captivated by the idea of crossing an ocean alone.

Prasad dedicated the row to raising awareness of mental health and supporting causes, including the Deenabandhu Trust, a children’s home and school in Mysore, and a UK-based mental health charity. She also hoped her journey would inspire more women, particularly women of colour, to pursue adventure sports.

Rowing 10–15 hours a day, she faced towering waves, strong winds, and extreme fatigue while navigating the vast ocean alone. One of the most dangerous moments came when her boat’s rudder broke, forcing her to dive into the ocean to repair it in rough waters.