History was rewritten when Kaamya Karthikeyan, an 18-year-old Indian mountaineer and the daughter of a naval officer, skied to the geographic South Pole. Battling gale-force winds and extreme Antarctic conditions, Kaamya covered nearly 60 nautical miles, about 115 kilometers, on foot from 89° South, pulling a heavily loaded sled carrying her entire expedition gear. With this feat, she became the youngest Indian and the second-youngest woman in the world to ski to the South Pole, once again placing India on the global adventure map. The Indian Navy, with pride and emotion, congratulated Kaamya, an alumna of Navy Children School, acknowledging not just her achievement but the spirit of perseverance and discipline she represents. Her journey is not just about reaching remote destinations; it is about pushing human limits with patience, preparation, and belief.

A Step Closer to the Legendary Explorers Grand Slam

Kaamya’s South Pole expedition is a crucial milestone in her quest to become the youngest person ever to complete the Explorers Grand Slam, one of the most demanding challenges in the world of adventure. The Grand Slam requires climbers to scale the highest peak on all seven continents and ski to both the North and South Poles. Very few people globally have accomplished this rare combination of endurance, skill, and mental strength. Having already conquered the Seven Summits and now the South Pole, Kaamya stands remarkably close to this ultimate goal. Each step she takes across ice fields and mountain ridges is not just physical progress but a statement of intent that age is no barrier when preparation meets purpose.

From Everest to Antarctica: A Record-Breaking Journey

Kaamya Karthikeyan’s name has become synonymous with record-breaking achievements. Living in Mumbai, Maharashtra, she began mountaineering at a young age and steadily built a career that many only dream of. At just 16, she became the youngest Indian mountaineer and the second-youngest girl in the world to summit Mount Everest from the Nepal side, achieving the feat on May 20, 2024. Her Everest climb was not an isolated triumph but part of a larger journey. In December 2024, when she summited Mount Vinson in Antarctica, she officially became the youngest female in the world to complete the Seven Summits Challenge. This meant conquering the highest peaks across Asia, South America, North America, Africa, Europe, Antarctica, and Australia.

The Seven Summits and the Elbrus Distinction

While Kaamya’s record as the youngest to complete the Seven Summits was later surpassed by Emma Schwerin in May 2025, the distinction remains significant. Schwerin substituted Mont Blanc for Mount Elbrus due to geopolitical conditions. Kaamya, however, climbed Mount Elbrus in Russia, meaning she remains the youngest to complete the traditional Seven Summits list that includes Elbrus. This detail reflects Kaamya’s commitment to authenticity and completeness. For her, records are not shortcuts but carefully earned milestones that respect the original spirit of exploration.

A Timeline of Extraordinary Feats

Kaamya’s journey is remarkable not only for its scale but also for its consistency over the years. She scaled Mount Kilimanjaro in 2017, followed by Mount Kosciuszko in 2018. That same year, she climbed Mount Elbrus and became the youngest person to complete a ski descent from its summit. In 2020, she summited Mount Aconcagua, becoming the youngest girl in the world to climb South America’s highest peak. In 2022, she reached the summit of Mount Denali, earning the distinction of being the youngest non-American to do so. Each expedition added experience, resilience, and quiet confidence, shaping her into the climber who would later take on Everest, Vinson, and the South Pole.

Discipline, Family, and the Human Side of the Journey

Behind the medals and milestones is a young woman shaped by discipline, values, and family support. As the daughter of a naval officer, Kaamya grew up in an environment that emphasized resilience, structure, and service. These values are visible in her approach to mountaineering, where preparation is as important as performance. Her achievements are not driven by thrill alone but by a deep sense of purpose. Enduring isolation, freezing temperatures, and physical exhaustion, especially in Antarctica, requires mental strength that goes beyond training. Kaamya’s calm determination reflects years of learning how to manage fear, fatigue, and self-doubt, lessons that resonate with young people far beyond the world of adventure sports.

Beyond Records, Towards Legacy

Kaamya Karthikeyan’s story is not only about being the youngest or the fastest. It is about choosing difficult paths, respecting traditions of exploration, and carrying the Indian flag to the world’s most extreme environments. As she inches closer to completing the Explorers Grand Slam, her journey continues to inspire not just aspiring climbers, but anyone who believes that dreams, when backed by discipline and perseverance, can cross even the coldest and highest frontiers of the world.