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Explorer's Grand Slam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir David Hempleman-Adams standing in Antarctica in 2018. In 1998 he became the first person to complete an Explorer's Grand Slam.
Vanessa O'Brien skiing the last degree to the North Pole as part of the Explorer's Grand Slam in 2013. She was the first woman to complete the Last Degree in under one year.

The Explorer's Grand Slam is an adventurer goal to reach the North Pole and South Pole, as well as climb the Seven Summits (Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson, and Puncak Jaya or Kosciuszko).

The Ultimate Explorer's Grand Slam includes this, plus visiting every country in the world.

History

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The original concept involved the polar trips starting from accepted coastal points, involving long sledging journeys. Over time the significantly shorter, easier, and less serious "Last Degree" polar trips – from 89 degrees to the pole (at 90 degrees) – have been claimed as the Explorer's Grand Slam (Last Degree). The climbing community, the American Alpine Club, The Explorers Club, climbing companies such as International Mountain Guides, define the Explorer's Grand Slam as having accomplished the Seven Summits plus (at a minimum – the last degree of) the North and South Poles. There is some consensus that a True Explorer's Grand Slam means one will also have summitted all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) (14 + 7 + 2). Likewise, there is some consensus that a True Adventurer's Grand Slam is achieved by also visiting the magnetic north and south poles.[1] As of 2022, all terminology and guidelines regarding polar data records are being conducted under the Polar Expeditions Classification Scheme (PECS).[2]

In 1998, David Hempleman-Adams became the first person to complete an Explorer's Grand Slam.[3][4]

In April 2005, Park Young-seok became the first person to complete a True Explorer's Grand Slam.[5]

In 2011, former Wales rugby union international Richard Parks became the first person to complete the (Last Degree) Grand Slam within a single calendar year, doing so within seven months.[6]

On April 16, 2013, Vanessa O'Brien became the first woman to complete the (Last Degree) Grand Slam under a single calendar year, doing so in eleven months.[7][8][4]

On April 22, 2013, Cheryl Bart became the first Australian woman and the 31st person worldwide to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam.[9][10]

In 2014, Jing Wang became the fastest woman to complete the (Last Degree) Grand Slam in 142 days.[11]

In 2014, Ryan Waters became the first American to complete the True Adventurer's Grand Slam by skiing full-length, unsupported and unassisted North and South Pole expeditions and climbing the seven summits.[citation needed]

On April 21, 2015, Tashi Malik and Nungshi Malik became world's first twins and siblings as well as the first South Asians to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam (Last Degree).[citation needed]

On May 27, 2016, Colin O'Brady became the fastest person to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam (Last Degree), doing so in 139 days. He is the world speed record holder for completing the Explorer's Grand Slam (Last Degree).[12][13][14][15]

On April 12, 2017, Marin Minamiya became the youngest person to complete the Explorers' Grand Slam (Last Degree) at 20 years old.[16]

On 12th January 2024, Johnny Ward became the first person to complete the Ultimate Explorers' Grand Slam.[17]

People who completed the quest

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Full Grand Slam (both poles from an outer coastline/shore)

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In chronological order:

  1. David Hempleman-Adams (United Kingdom)
  2. Erling Kagge (Norway)
  3. Fyodor Konyukhov (Russia)
  4. Heo Young-ho (South Korea)
  5. Park Young-seok (first person to complete a True Explorers Grand Slam) (South Korea) [5]
  6. Bernard Voyer (Canada) [18]
  7. Cecilie Skog (Norway)
  8. Maxime Chaya (Lebanon)
  9. Ryan Waters (United States) [19]
  10. Stuart Smith (United States)
  11. Johan Ernst Nilson (Sweden) [20]
  12. Wilco van Rooijen [nl] (Netherlands) [21]

Grand Slam (one pole from an inner coastline/shore and one pole from an outer coastline/shore or last degree)

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In chronological order:

  1. Haraldur Ólafsson (SP non-Coastal) (Iceland)
  2. Khoo Swee Chiow (SP non-Coastal) (Singapore) [22]
  3. Alison Levine (NP non-Coastal) (United States) [23]
  4. Mostafa Salameh (NP non-Coastal) (Jordan) [24]
  5. Newall Hunter (NP non-Coastal) (United Kingdom) [25]
  6. Zhang Liang (SP non-Coastal) (China) [26]
  7. Grazyna Machnik (NP non-Coastal) (United Kingdom,Poland)
  8. Jaco Ottink (NP non-Coastal) (Netherlands) [27]
  9. Jérôme Brisebourg (NP non-Coastal) (France) [28]
  10. Mark Shuttleworth (NP non-Coastal) (United Kingdom) [29]

11. Inge Meløy (NP non-Costal) (Norway)

Last Degree Grand Slam (both poles from 89 degrees)

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In chronological order:

  1. Sean Disney (South Africa) [30]
  2. Vaughan de la Harpe (South Africa)
  3. Sibusiso Vilane (South Africa)
  4. Arthur Marsden (South Africa)
  5. Andrew Van Der Velde (South Africa)
  6. Vernon Tejas (United States)
  7. Will Cross (United States)
  8. Lei Wang (United States, China)
  9. Neil Laughton (United Kingdom) [31]
  10. Jo Gambi (United Kingdom)
  11. Rob Gambi (Australia)
  12. Randall Peeters (United States)
  13. Wang Yongfeng (China)
  14. Ci Luo (China)
  15. Liu Jian (China)
  16. Wang Shi (China)
  17. Zhong Jianmin (China)
  18. Jin Feibao (China) [32]
  19. Wang Qiuyang (China)
  20. Suzanne K Nance (United States) [33]
  21. Richard Parks (United Kingdom)
  22. Andrea Cardona (Guatemala)
  23. John Dahlem (United States)
  24. Matthew Holt (United Kingdom)
  25. (Switzerland) (Canada) Arnold Witzig
  26. Len Stanmore (Canada) [34]
  27. Cheryl Bart (Australia)
  28. Vanessa O'Brien (United States, United Kingdom)
  29. Sebastian Merriman (United Kingdom) [35]
  30. Jing Wang (China) [11]
  31. Tashi Malik (India) [36]
  32. Nungshi Malik (India) [36]
  33. Omar Samra (Egypt) [37]
  34. Maria (Masha) Gordon ((United Kingdom, Russia)
  35. Colin O'Brady (United States) [12]
  36. John Moorhouse (United Kingdom)
  37. Victor Vescovo (United States) [38]
  38. Sean Swarner (United States) [39]
  39. Marin Minamiya (Japan) [16]
  40. Michael W. Grigsby (United States) [40]
  41. Julia Elinor Schultz (Germany) [41]
  42. Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin (Malaysia) [42]
  43. Mike Gibbons (United States) [43]
  44. Nikolaos Mangitsis (Greece) [44]
  45. Josu Feijoo (Spain) [45]
  46. James Holliday (United States) [46]
  47. Joel Schauer (United States) [47]
  48. Alexander Pancoe (United States) [48]
  49. Leifur Svavarsson (Iceland) [49]
  50. Khai Nguyen (Canada) (United States)
  51. Taylor Sweitzer (United States)
  52. Antony Costa (Cyprus)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "First person to complete the Adventurers Grand Slam". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  2. ^ "The Language of Polar Adventure". Polar Expeditions Classification Scheme. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  3. ^ "North Pole party for 'Grand Slam' Briton". BBC. 1998-04-30.
  4. ^ a b Van Den Broek, Alex. "Can the Explorer's Grand Slam Be Saved?". The Explorers Web. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Mr. Park completes the Grand Slam". EverestNews.com. April 2005.
  6. ^ "Parks completes epic challenge". ESPN Scrum. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  7. ^ "Boston's Vanessa O'Brien Completes 'Explorer's Grand Slam' in Record Time". Boston.com. April 2013.
  8. ^ "Boston's Vanessa O'Brien Becomes First Woman to Climb Seven Summits". Grind TV. May 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  9. ^ "Historic feat for Australian woman conquering Explorer's Grand Slam".
  10. ^ "Icy grand slam success". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  11. ^ a b "An Awesome Adventure of Wang Jing". Gantabya Nepal News. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Setting an epic world record". Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  13. ^ "Meet the Triathlete Who Broke Two Mountaineering World Records and Snapchatted Everest | VICE Sports". VICE Sports. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  14. ^ "Behind-the-Scenes of Colin O'Brady's Record-Shattering Expedition". Men's Journal. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  15. ^ "Portland endurance athlete brings home two world records, makes us all look lazy". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  16. ^ a b NHK. "最年少20歳で冒険家グランドスラム達成 南谷さんが会見". NHK News. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  17. ^ "How hard is it to visit every country on the planet?". NZ Herald. 2024-10-21. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  18. ^ Roy-Sole, Monique. "Gold Medal 2000 Winner – Bernard Voyer". The Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  19. ^ Stonich, Avery. "What It Takes to Complete the Adventurers Grand Slam Unsupported". National Geographic. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  20. ^ Stats, Adventure. "Three Poles – NP, SP, Everest (excluding motorized)". Adventure Stats. Adventure Stats. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ "Adventure Stats". Adventure Stats. Archived from the original on March 27, 2002. Retrieved 12 June 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ^ "Khoo Swee Chiow, Adventure Consultant & Motivational Speaker". Everestnews.com. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  23. ^ Associated Press, Climber Conquers Everest and Records Grand Slam https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/sports/15climb.html New York Times. Aug 14, 2000.
  24. ^ Coetzer, Correne. "Interview with Mostafa Salameh: Islam, Palestine, Peace and the South Pole". The Explorers Web. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  25. ^ Hynes, Justin. "NEWALL HUNTER: HOW A 53-YEAR-OLD IT ENGINEER JOINED THE EXPLORING ELITE". Nightjar Travel. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. ^ Pokhrel, Rajan. "Four Chinese climbers complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 m this autumn". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  27. ^ Kikstra, Harry. "Editor". The 7 Summits. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  28. ^ "liveXplorer". Expeditions Unlimited. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  29. ^ "South Pole Expedition- 2021/22". The Shutts. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  30. ^ Seemela, Masego (29 August 2016). "Father and son take on Mount Kilimanjaro". Fourways Review. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  31. ^ Laughton, Neil (2012-12-12). "Neil Laughton: the adventure interview". Telegraph Media Group. London.
  32. ^ Scally, Patrick. "YUNNAN'S NATIVE SON, JIN FEIBAO, COMPLETES 100 MARATHONS IN 100 DAYS". Go Kunming. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Trek For Hope (The Himalayan Panoramas) – Sharing by Mr Khoo Swee Chiow". Meetup. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  34. ^ Lovitt, Rob. "Adventure traveler Len Stanmore is not your average retiree". Today Travel. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  35. ^ "Seb 2 Poles and 7 Summits". Explorer's Grand Slam. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  36. ^ a b Trivedi, Anupam. "Doon twins set to make history, once again". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  37. ^ Nourhan, Magdi. "Omar Samra becomes 1st Egyptian to reach North Pole". The Cairo Post. YOUM7. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  38. ^ http://7summits.com/ +SP:Jan 2016/Guide S. Robertson(ALE); NP:Apr 2017/Guide E. Larsen
  39. ^ WINFIELD, ALETTE. "Sean Swarner Becomes First Cancer Survivor To Complete Explorer's Grand Slam". PR Web. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  40. ^ Hendrick, Bill. "Cobb man's quest to conquer the Seven Summits". The Marietta Daily Journal (MDJ). Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  41. ^ "Julia Schultz Certificate". Explorers Grand Slam. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  42. ^ "Family, Country Leader Inspired National Explorer Qobin to Create History". The Malay Mail Online. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  43. ^ "2017 South Pole and Mount Vinson Blogs". Polar Explorers. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  44. ^ "The 7summits statistics: the Carstensz Pyramid list". The Seven Summits. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  45. ^ ALCUTÉN, JACOBO. "Josu Feijoo, el primer astronauta diabético". 20 Minutos. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  46. ^ "Facts & figures of all 7summiteers!". The 7 Summits. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  47. ^ Placek, Christopher. "How Hawthorn Woods businessman vanquished Mount Everest". Daily Herald Chicago. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  48. ^ CBS 2 News Morning. "Northwestern Grad Alex Pancoe Climbs Denali". CBS Chicago. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved 25 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  49. ^ "Positions of the Expeditions" (PDF). Explorer Grand Slam Official Website. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
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