Danish woman wins marathon on ice at the North Pole

Danish runner Rikke Dam emerged as the fastest woman at the unique North Pole Marathon held on Saturday. The challenging race took place on a 1055-meter ice circuit, attracting 23 participants from seven different nations. Competitors navigated the icy terrain while wearing life vests and under the watchful eyes of guards ensuring safety from polar bears. Dam crossed the finish line with an impressive time of 6 hours, 54 minutes, and 2 seconds. The event saw participants arrive in the Arctic via the French icebreaker cruise ship "Le Commandant Charcot." The men's race was won by China's Wang Shengxian, who finished in 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 22 seconds. Notably, Rikke Dam's husband and son also completed the demanding ice marathon. The North Pole Marathon, established in 2003, featured runners from Denmark, the USA, China, Hong Kong, France, Australia, and the UK this year. This achievement adds to Dam's experience, as she also completed a marathon in Antarctica in 2025.