COMPETITORS
2025
Min
Chen
Born in Qinghai, China, Min is a mountaineer and passionate adventurer who inspires women to explore and live life to the fullest. In May 2021, she successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest via the South route. In December 2023, she completed a last-degree ski expedition to the South Pole. By October 2024, she had accomplished the Seven Summits challenge, having climbed the highest peak on every continent. In July 2025, she completed the North Pole Marathon and earned a Guinness World Record as part of a five-member team.
Xiaohui
Chen
Xiaohui just completed the North Pole Marathon in July this year and is now excited for Antarctica in November. Named one of China’s Top 10 Marathon Figures (2018), he has completed more than 100 races - from half marathons to 100K ultramarathons - including all six World Marathon Majors. As President of Cheers Publishing, Xiaohui has championed China’s running culture by introducing over 20 influential titles such as The Running Bible and Daniels’ Running Formula, as well as publishing bestsellers like The Value and Shoe Dog.
Xuexiang
Cheng
Elaine
Du
Elanie Du is a featured member of the China Adventure Association, the Intercontinental Marathon Club, and the Global Grand Slam Club. This will be her third time running in Antarctica, but her first ultra here.
Yan
Han
Yan just completed the North Pole Marathon in July this year and is now eagerly looking forward to Antarctica in November. A passionate marathoner and Six-Star finisher, she completed the World Marathon Majors in 2019 with the Boston Marathon—joining just 340 Chinese runners to achieve this milestone. Beyond the finish line, Yan is the Founder and Chairwoman of Cheers Publishing, a leading Chinese publisher honored with six National Library Wenjin Book Awards. With over 30 years in publishing, she has curated more than 2,000 influential titles and authored Make Thinking a Habit, sharing her insights on reading, reflection, and growth.
Daqing
Mao
Mao Daqing is a dedicated marathon enthusiast and endurance athlete. He currently serves as the President of the Hundred-Marathon Runners Branch under the China Adventure Association and is the founder of the “Maoxantuan” (Knit-a-Run) Charity Running Club. As of September 2025, he has completed 246 full marathons. His achievements include a nomination for the 2016 CCTV Sports Personality of the Year Award (Sports Spirit Category), being named a “China Marathon Annual Figure” in 2017, and serving as a Torchbearer for the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games. Mao completed the 2023 World Marathon Challenge (7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days) and was honored as one of the 10th “Contemporary Chinese Xu Xiake” awardees. He has also finished the 2024 Ultimate Gobi March (part of the RacingThePlanet® 4 Deserts series), the 2025 Chicheng 168 Ultra-Trail Challenge, and the 2025 Xiongguan 330 Great Wall Ultra (236km course, halted mid-event due to extreme conditions).
Sean
McKaveney
Sean is an American lawyer, global adventurer, and accomplished endurance athlete from San Diego, California. He has completed some of the world’s most challenging races, including the Great Wall Marathon and the Mount Everest Marathon. Now returning to Antarctica for the second time, he will take on the grueling Ice Ultra 50K. He intends to pray the Rosary throughout the entire race—uniting his passion for extreme personal challenges with his devotion and enthusiasm for the Catholic faith.
Henk
Moen
Henk is a seasoned endurance athlete from South Africa with over 500 races completed, including 100-mile events, multi-day races, and a marathon in Antarctica. He currently holds — for the second time — the Guinness World Record for the fastest aggregate time to complete an ultra on all seven continents. With a strong background in extreme endurance and a focus on official race records, Henk is now preparing for the Ice Ultra, ready to take on another challenge and push his limits once again.
Woutri
Mugglestone
Woutri Mugglestone is a South African endurance athlete, business partner at CrossFit Hymn Bloemfontein and independent real estate agent at RE/MAX First Bloemfontein. A warrior, a fighter, and a survivor — she believes life is not about chasing medals, but about living with purpose and chasing every dream with heart. Her journey has taken her across continents — from reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to completing ultra trail and endurance races. Each finish line tells a story of faith, resilience, and courage. She is proudly an ambassador for Revive Electrolytes and The Local Choice Pharmacy Towers, South Africa representing brands that support health, recovery, and endurance. Balancing business, coaching, and sport, Woutri’s mission is to show that with faith, discipline, and heart, anything is possible. “Dream big, work hard, but never forget to notice yourself — you are a masterpiece of a perfect God.” “When faith is stronger than fear, no distance is too far.”
Yusheng
Ni
Yusheng has completed nearly 500 marathon and ultramarathon races, including over twenty 100k races and four 100-mile races, across seven continents and more than 80 countries and regions. He has run over 130 marathons under 3 hours, with a personal best of 2:42. Yusheng has finished the World Marathon Majors over six times, completing 31 races with an impressive average best time of 2:45 for the six majors, and has claimed 30 championships. In the summer of 2024 & 2025, he completed the North Pole Marathon, the ‘World’s Coolest Marathon,’ and 3 month later, he won the 100km with the time of 10 hours 42 minutes at the 2024 Antarctic Ice Ultra. Yusheng is also the Chairman of Shenzhen Yuanteng Investment and Development Company, specializing in real estate construction and financial investment.
Rainer
Predl
My Name is Rainer Predl, i am an austrian ultrarunner. In 2014, I was the first European to win the Sahara Marathon, and I hold the world record for 30-day treadmill running at 2,340 km. I'm also an athlete on the Austrian National Ultra Running Team. I'm thrilled to be living my passion in Antarctica. I want to complete the run for my late father and simply meet a lot of people and friends.
Chunyu
Shao
Chunyu is the director of an investment and real estate development company in Shenzhen, China, specializing in real estate construction and financial investment. New to running, she has completed 12 half marathons and an 8-day, 8-state, 8-5K challenge in the United States. Her most memorable experiences include completing the half marathon distance at the North Pole Marathon in both 2024 and 2025, as well as running at the 2024 Antarctic Ice Marathon and the 2024 Ice Ultra. She is now excited to return to Antarctica to take on the 2025 Ice Ultra.
Gretchen
Swarr
Gretchen is a Research Associate at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. After missing a chance to do field work in Antarctica several years ago she is excited to finally make it to her seventh continent. She likes to use physical challenges and goals to keep her motivated to exercise, and to show her daughter that anything is possible if you work hard enough at it. She has also found that races are a great excuse to travel the world with her family. She has overcome several mental and physical challenges through marathons, triathlons, and duathlons, and is excited to add her first ultramarathon to that list. She has completed 15 marathons on four continents and holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a chef (female), which included carrying a 3+ kg cast iron frying pan throughout the marathon.
Taylor
Wallen
Taylor Wallen is an ultra-runner and adventurer. After completing her first half marathon two weeks before her college graduation, Taylor discovered her passion for running and traveling. She has successfully completed numerous marathons and ultra-marathons including the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. Taylor also loves camping and backpacking and has traveled across Japan on the Kumono Kodo trek and across Spain on the Camino de Santiago trail. She is looking forward to finding new adventures around the world!
Jasper
Weeteling
Jasper is an entrepreneur, strategist, and innovation leader with over 20 years of experience building digital ventures. Specializing in AI, behavioral science, and breakthrough design. An Ironman finisher, ultra runner, and avid kitesurfer, Jasper is passionate about turning friction into flow. He is the founder of his own venture and lives with his wife, Barbara, and their two children.
Michael
Wondu
Mike Wondu is an Eritrean-Canadian runner and new author from Edmonton, Alberta, with his debut book 641 Principles releasing very soon. His global marathon journey began in 2019 and has taken him across six continents, driven by a mission of endurance, faith, and self-discovery. Each race represented a step in pushing the limits of what’s possible—spiritually, mentally, and physically. The Antarctic Ice Ultra will mark the completion of his 7-continent goal and his mission to inspire others to rediscover themselves and realize what they’re truly capable of becoming.