Captain Preet Chandi MBE – Breaking Boundaries: World Record-Breaking Polar Explorer Inspiring the Next Generation

Captain Preet Chandi MBE is a world record breaking explorer, former British Army officer, and physiotherapist. She served in the Royal Army Medical Corps for 16 years before embarking on groundbreaking polar expeditions. In 2022, Preet became the ninth woman in history to ski solo to the South Pole, and the first woman of colour to complete a solo expedition on the continent. Less than a year later, she set out on her next adventure, breaking two Guinness World Records for the longest solo unsupported one-way ski expedition, both for a woman and overall, covering 922 miles in 70 days. She returned to Antarctica in December 2023 to set her fourth world record: the female speed record to the South Pole, completed in 31 days, 13 hours, and 19 minutes. Preet’s expeditions are driven by her mission to inspire others to push boundaries. She champions the message that everyone starts somewhere, and that no matter your background or starting point in life, you are capable of breaking barriers and redefining what’s possible. In 2025, she established her Community Interest Company, Adventure is Ours CIC, which supports expeditions that promote education, inspiration, climate awareness, and diversity in exploration. Through the CIC, she also delivers outreach, mentorship, and school visits to empower people of all ages. In 2022, Preet started delivered her school talks across the UK, reaching more than 18,000 students. That same year, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Her achievements have been widely recognised: she received the ‘Inspirational’ and ‘Woman of the Year’ awards at the inaugural Women in Defence event in 2022, was named ‘Explorer of the Year’ in 2023, and in 2025 was awarded the prestigious Geographical Award by the Royal Geographical Society. Past TGP episodes July 8th 2021 - Preet Chandi - Army Physiotherapist, Ultra Runner, first solo unsupported expedition to South Pole! Feb 15th 2022 - Preet Chandi - aka Polar Preet - 1st woman of colour to reach the South Pole New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries. Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Your support makes a difference. Thank you x Show notes Who is PreetOriginally from Darby, but basically living everywhereSpending 16 years in the ArmyChatting to Preet previously on the Tough Girl PodcastMaking the decision to leave the ArmyComing back in debt Getting straight back into workStarting the next fundraising cycle Trying to get unpaid leaveDoing her 3rd expedition without telling anyoneTrying to cross the landmass on Antarctica on her 2nd tripNot making it The voice in her head, telling her she had failedFeeling the relief when she finishedGetting 2 records from the tripWhy it’s ok to failBeing slated by an article Feeling worried about what people in the adventure community would think of herWondering if she could get the female speed record? (Needing to break 33 days)Why you don’t need to be the best to succeedLearning as she goes onWhy 2023 was a tough year and strugglingThe impact on weight loss on your brainBurnoutStarting to feel recoveredWanting to train for the North PoleHaving time offLosing her granddad and hearing the news after the tripBuilding momentumGetting to sleep 8 hrs per nightTalking about failureMaking mistakes and being able to pinpoint themBeing nervous to get startedNeeding to get going and hitting some storms at the startThe voice in her head - being scared to fail, and being called a failureUsing her pain relief before she though she would need to Getting a polar thigh industryStarting to move more slowly towards the end Focusing on the next 2hrsGetting home Traumatic growth?The daily pain cave…Being made to slow downThe costs of doing these trips Getting help and supportTrip 3 - the women’s speed recordDealing with the hungerThe next big challenge - the north poleWhy there is a high chance of failureYou can not fail, unless you tryPreparing for the misery and suffering The privilege of being on the start line of adventuresLying to herself Why not Preet!Needing luck on the next adventure Wanting to show show much than you can do anything You go and you tryWhy her trips are bigger than herWhy adventure is for anyoneBeing very driven and being an encouragerHow to connect with PreetMBE and what it meansWhat’s been achieved in 4 yearsWhy you do belong in every single roomThe importance of the first step Social Media Website: www.polarpreet.com Instagram: @polarpreet Facebook: @polarpreet