Charges Fly on Record Authenticity As 3 Claim to Visit South Pole in Under 44 Days

Shattered record at the South Pole! This week began with the excitement (and dispute) over Fiona Thornewill’s record-breaking attempt to the South Pole, which she reached solo and unsupported in only 41 days and 9 hours. Fiona shattered Liv Arnesen’s previous “50 day record that stood from 1994. Just two days later, fellow female solo Brit, Rosie Stancer arrived at the South Pole with a time of 43 days and 20 hrs! The two bonded like sisters when they met. But controversy arose soon after a Korean team’s arrival at the SP. The team, which included summiteer of all 14 8,000m peaks, Park Young-seok, arrived after an unsupported 44 day trip. According to The Korea Times, Park “denied the authenticity of Fiona’s record,” suggesting she had an airlift early in her expedition. ExplorersWeb confirmed Fiona’s Argos positions and determined she did indeed break the record first.
http://www.thepoles.com/story/ExplorersWebWeekinReviewJan172004.shtml