Gardner, Burke win first Everesting World Championships
Some of the world's most indomitable climbers descended on Sicily's Mount Etna on Sunday for the inaugural Everesting World Championship. Competitors contending for the first-time title would have to be the fastest to climb 8,848 meters up the active volcano – that's seven trips up the 23 km-long ascent, totaling almost 300 km of distance (161 km of climbing and 138 km of descent).
Illi Gardner, who holds the top two fastest women's Everesting times in the world – 8:03:29 and 8:33:47, added the coveted climbing title to her impressive list of crowns. The UK-based grimpeur completed the challenge in 8:28:40, almost 90 minutes ahead of her closest rival, Germany's Annette Griner (9:57:15), while claiming the highly contested Mount Etna QOM in the process.
Canada's Jack Burke, who currently holds the Alpe d'Huez and Mortirolo KOMs, claimed the inaugural men's title in a time of 7:30:52 over Australian ultra-cyclist Jack Thompson (8:23:24). Escape Collective's Ronan Mc Laughlin's World Record time of 6:40:54 set in 2021 on Ireland's Mamore Gap is safe for another day.
