VIDEOS, PHOTOS: Sensational Hungarian victory on the Antarctica!
Szilvia Lubics, a Hungarian ultramarathon runner, won The Last Desert competition in Antarctica. Participants of the six-stage contest had to run on the snowy and icy terrains of the sixth continent. Szilvia completed 197.3 kilometres there during the six stages. The shortest lasted four hours, while the longest was a seven-hours long walk/run in the waist-deep snow.
According to her husband reporting about her results on the Hungarian ultramarathoner’s official Facebook page, the second was the Japanese Watanabe with 190.5 kilometres. The bronze medal will go to the South African Reynold, who completed 187.7 kilometres in Antarctica. The other Hungarian ultramarathon runner, Miklós Roskovics, did 200.5 kilometres and finished fifth.
According to the Racing the Planet official Facebook page (the contest in Antarctica is one “segment” of that series of races), the final Stage of The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2022 concluded at Deception Island under blue sky, with strong winds but no snow during the race. It was a beautiful course in the caldera of a volcano with lots of seals and birds, including a few penguins. One seal knocked down the finish line banner and then rolled in it.
Here is a video about the final stage of the competition:
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The leaders completed more than 50 km in the 7 hours of the Stage. In The Last Desert, 250km is the goal but is not always reached depending on the conditions. All racers who stay on the course for the full amount of time for each Stage is a finisher.
“I expected a not so hard race. I did a 240 mile race a few weeks ago and thought The Last Desert would be easy, and now I think this is the hardest race I have ever done. The deep snow and being wet and cold were so hard. The scenery is wonderful, and I cannot believe I am here and that there are penguins everywhere and that everyone is so kind. I feel so much love and energy when I leave the start line. When I go home, I will remember only the wonderful memories”, Szilvia said after her victory.
Here are some additional photos of the race and the contestants:
According to his husband’s report, all contestants must fight the elements, the deep snow, and the considerable elevation of the terrain. Furthermore, they have to bring all their equipment in a backpack.
43 contestants from 23 countries, 18 women and 25 men, took part in „The Last Desert – Antarctica” competition, but only experienced ultramarathon contestants were allowed to start the race. It was a precondition to finish at least 250 kilometres in a desert race. Szilvi did so in the Atacama Desert (Chile and Peru), and Namibia, in Africa.
Some more images:
Interestingly, Szilvia took part in a 385km long desert run in Utah a couple of weeks ago. Her body had to adapt to the extreme cold relatively quickly. Furthermore, her husband shared that she is sensitive to the cold.
The contestants started from Ushuaia nine days ago and left Antarctica this morning, heading back to the Argentinian port.
You may find several photos and videos HERE.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duq5nyIFLzY
Source: Facebook/LubicsSzilvia, facebook.com/racingtheplanet