First Cypriot to reach the South Pole

Cyprus’ first Antarctic explorer has completed her epic expedition to the South Pole.
Stephanie Solomonides, together with six women from across the Commonwealth arrived at the pole shortly after 11pm on Tuesday.
Speaking from the Amundsen-Scott research station at the pole on Wednesday, Solomonides said “I have to describe the scene it’s a beautiful day, sunny and there’s not a cloud in sight. The whole team is here with our flags out and there are lots of smiling faces”
Team leader Felicity Aston said “I’m incredibly proud of the team and I think the feeling that we’re all feeling right now is that if we can do this, then you can do anything that you like. That’s the message that we really want to send to everyone.”
She added “We’re all incredibly happy and we’re standing here, seven women at the bottom of the planet with the biggest smiles on our faces right now.”
The team has left for London for a celebration on January 11 but not before delivering a televised conference and Q&A session, hosted by the National Geographic store in London.
“The talk went really well. It was a live link up which has only happened once before.” said Solomonides. “Now the team is really looking forward to getting to Chile for a hot shower.”
Aston added “We can’t wait to get home and share all our stories with you all and we’re going to be doing that over the next couple of weeks but first of all we’re all off to get a good sleep and to have something really good to eat.”
The team’s 37 day expedition began at the so called “Messner Start”, some 900 kilometres from the pole, along a route travelled by around just 60 people before now.
Since setting off, the team has endured minus 40 degree Celsius temperatures, blizzards, snow drifts and fatigue from carrying all of their own food and equipment.
Describing her experience, Solomonides said “It was hard work and no easy ride.
We were blessed with good weather; Antarctica was very good to us. It was tough, but if it wasn’t then everybody would be doing this. Because it was hard, the reward is so much sweeter.”
The final days have been more bearable, however. With the finishing line in sight, Stephanie said in her last podcast “It’s been absolutely perfect for travelling; quite cool, obviously for temperature wise, because we’re close to the South Pole and there was no wind whatsoever, just sunshine throughout.”
The expedition marks the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth as well as demonstrating the potential for greater international understanding and exchange and highlights the achievements of women across the World.
Representing a Commonwealth of 52 nations and 2 billion people around the globe, the team was selected from over 800 applicants.

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