Leanne Maiden has set out to sea where she strives toward a massive adventure: becoming the first South African woman to complete the World’s Toughest Row!
Global (14 December 2023) — Leanne Maiden has set out to sea for the kind of adventure only the bravest dare to dream about. With only her boat ‘Rieka’ for company, she will row solo for over 80 days and across nearly 5000 kilometres that the World’s Toughest Row demands.
Taking off from La Gomera earlier this week with the end destination of Antigua in the Caribbean still just a twinkle in her eye, Leanne and Rieka are also on their way to making history. The determined South African could just become the first South African woman to complete the World’s Toughest Row—a fuel engine of inspiration. According to Leanne, only 34 solo females have attempted to row across the Atlantic before her.
But, for Leanne, this is not just a bid for a title. It is also to inspire others, especially her children, to do “ambitious crazy things,” she shared with Sky News. Beyond this, it is her way to give something extraordinary to those who cannot even enjoy the ordinary, through the charities she hopes to pay it forward to.
A Scotland resident and South African at heart, Leanne has all kinds of international gees backing her. And, she’ll need as much of it as any of us can muster, albeit from afar, given that this race is not just physically strenuous, but the epitome of isolation.
You might think that Leanne has a wealth of experience in doing ambitious, crazy things to sign up to stretch across the Atlantic solo. However, she describes herself as a “very ordinary woman”.
“I am a daughter, a sister, a wife, a friend and a mother to 2 incredible sons who I hope will be very proud of me.”
Well, South Africa is already so proud of you!
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