Canadian ultrarunner Stephanie Case has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first woman to finish 100 miles at the Antarctic Ice Ultra, completing the race on Sunday in a time of 17:31:39. Case secured second place overall, trailing China’s Yusheng Ni, who won with a time of 17:02:24. Both athletes set new event records, surpassing the previous record of 22:40:47, established by Ni in 2025.
Originally from Ontario and now residing in Chamonix, France, Case aimed to break the overall record and expressed her delight with her accomplishment.
“I’m ecstatic to have gotten this record, Case told. I hope it shows women—and moms in particular—out there that we can keep striving for big things after having kids.”
I hope it shows women—and moms in particular—that we can keep striving for big things after having kids.”
Racing 100 miles in Antarctica
The Antarctic Ice Ultra is held in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica. Runners complete multiple loops on snow and ice around a remote base camp, with temperatures often plunging below -20 C. This event commenced in 2024, featuring distances ranging from a half-marathon to 100 miles, as well as a 24-hour relay. Until this race, no woman had finished the 100-mile distance, making Case the first to hold this record.
Stephanie Case, Antarctica Ice Ultra. Photo: peakpixelcafe.de | The North Face
This year, 28 competitors participated in various distances of the event. Due to an approaching storm, organizers initiated the races at 1 a.m. local time. After all participants completed the race, they were flown back to Cape Town, South Africa, prior to the storm’s arrival.
Preparing for extreme conditions
To prepare for the extreme cold, Case adopted some unconventional methods. Before heading south, she spent 20 minutes in a cryotherapy chamber in Geneva, Switzerland, testing her gear as temperatures fluctuated from -130 C to around -25 C. She mentioned that this experience helped her rethink her approach to managing food and hydration with freezing hands.
Stephanie Case. Photo: peakpixelcafe.de | The North Face
Another win for women in ultrarunning
Case has an extensive history in long-distance mountain racing. In 2021, she clinched victory in the women’s 450-km Tor des Glaciers in Italy, finishing third overall, and was the runner-up at the 2022 Hardrock 100. Last year, just six months after giving birth to her daughter, Pepper, she won the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 100K in Wales, taking time during the race to breastfeed. Following the event, she discussed the criticism she faced from those who believed she should have prioritized staying home with her child.
Continuing her competitive streak, Case placed fifth at the Hardrock and second at Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB later in 2025, maintaining her strong performance into 2026 with a sixth-place finish at Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB in June.
In addition to her athletic pursuits, Case is a human rights lawyer and the founder of Free to Run, a charity she established in Afghanistan in 2014. The organization aims to empower women and girls in conflict-affected areas through running, promoting their involvement in sports and leadership roles. She leveraged her Antarctic challenge to raise funds for Free to Run and to highlight the obstacles faced by many women and girls in accessing sports.
This isn’t hard compared to what so many women and girls face trying to experience a bit of freedom outdoors,”
she shared on Instagram.
After her historic run, Case was eager to reunite with her daughter, who had watched her finish via livestream.
I can’t wait to get home to tell Pepper all about it,”
Case’s fundraising campaign is available here, with proceeds supporting Free to Run.