19 Facts About Preet Chandi

Preet Chandi was appointed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 2022 Birthday Honours.

Preet Chandi took up marathon running when she was eighteen, and ultra-marathons, initially in the Peak District.

Preet Chandi joined the Territorial Army in 2008, and then the British Army when she was 27.

Preet Chandi was promoted to captain on 15 December 2016, and serves as a Clinical Training Officer with 3 Medical Regiment.

Preet Chandi has served in Nepal, Kenya and South Sudan, where she was deployed on a six-month United Nations peacekeeping tour.

In 2019, prior to her South Pole expedition, Preet Chandi completed the Marathon des Sables, a 156-mile ultramarathon across the Sahara.

Preet Chandi gave public launch to her expedition challenge at The Shard on 21 October 2021, noting she had been training for two years.

Preet Chandi set out on her solo expedition on 7 November 2021, departing from Antarctica's Hercules Inlet.

Preet Chandi documented her journey via voice notes, which she uploaded to her blog.

Preet Chandi said after her first week that this would be the longest time in her life that she would be alone.

Preet Chandi listened to podcasts and music and messages from friends; when just 15 nautical miles from the Pole, she posted a voice note asking six of her friends to be her bridesmaids.

Preet Chandi completed her journey in 40 days, 7 hours and 3 minutes, making her the third fastest solo woman to reach the South Pole unassisted, behind Johanna Davidsson of Sweden and Hannah McKeand from Great Britain.

In November 2022, Preet Chandi set off on her second solo expedition from Hercules Inlet, with the aim of becoming the first woman to cross Antarctica solo and unsupported, hoping to reach Reedy Glacier within 75 days.

On 20 January 2023, it was announced that Preet Chandi had broken the world record for the longest solo and unsupported polar expedition, having travelled 868 miles up to that point.

Preet Chandi set off on 26 November to ski solo and on 28 December 2023, she reached the South Pole and declared to be the fastest solo woman skier to complete this route.

Preet Chandi was interviewed on Channel 4 News and said she first thought she was a day behind the previous fastest time, but had been told she was actually more than a day ahead of the record.

Preet Chandi was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 Birthday Honours, the Queen's last, with investiture at Windsor Castle performed by the Princess Royal in February 2023.

Preet Chandi was given an honorary degree by the University of Derby.

In November 2022, Preet Chandi won Woman of the Year and the Inspirational Award at the Women in Defence Awards 2022.