Young Record Breakers
Here are four notable global record-breaking youth wins of 2021 so far.
Here are four notable global record-breaking youth wins of 2021 so far.
Jasmine Harrison
Record: Youngest woman to row solo across an ocean
Age: 21 Citizenship: British
In February 2021, 21-year-old Harrison became the youngest woman to row any ocean solo. She completed the feat in 70 days, three hours, and 48 minutes as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. She began her journey in Spain's Canary Islands on December 12, 2020, and finished 3,000 miles later in Antigua. Before Harrison, the youngest woman to row across the ocean was American Katie Spotz, who crossed the Atlantic in 2010 at age 22.
Travis Ludlow
Record: Youngest person to fly the globe solo in a single-engine aircraft Age: 18 Citizenship: British
Ludlow made history as the youngest person to fly the world independently in a single-engine aircraft, a journey that took the 18-year-old about 60 stops across nine countries. He landed in the Netherlands on July 12, 2021, having spent 44 days completing the 24,900mile route. The teenage pilot was only 13 days younger than American Mason Andrews, the previous record-holder. The Briton has been flying since he was 12 and became the U.K.'s youngest glider pilot at age 14.
Oliver Daemen
Record: Youngest astronaut
Age: 18 Citizenship: Dutch
On July 20, Daeman flew to space on Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin in its first human flight from West Texas. At 18, the gap-year student became the youngest astronaut to travel to space and Blue Origin's first paying customer. The cost of Daemen's ticket remains undisclosed. The Dutch teenager shared the flight with Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, and aviator Wally Funk. Blue Origin confirmed that Daemen had studied to obtain his private pilot's license and was the son of Joes Daemen, founder of private equity group Somerset Capital Partners, based in Oisterwijk, Netherlands.
Shehroze Kashif
Record: Youngest person to summit K2 and only teen ever to climb the tallest two peaks in one year
Age: 19 Citizenship: Pakistani Mountaineer Kashif rose to prominence this year after setting multiple world records. On July 27, 2021, the 19-year-old became the youngest person to climb the K2 summit. At 8,611 meters, the K2 peak stands as the world's second-highest mountain after Mount Everest. Earlier this May, the teenager also scaled Mount Everest, becoming the youngest Pakistani to achieve the feat. Kashif's consecutive achievements have also made him the world's only teen mountaineer to climb Everest and K2 in the same year within three months. He conquered the world's 12th highest mountain, Broad Peak, age 17.