Kerry man is the last competitor standing in Arctic circle endurance race in -42 degrees

Killarney man Kevin Leahy has won the one of the most gruelling endurance races across the Arctic Circle.

The Kerry man survived the most brutal conditions ever experienced in this race as he skied across the Kungseden Trail in Sweden in the Montane Arctic Spine Endurance Race.

Kevin begin the trek last Tuesday, February 8 and has completed the race today, February 13 becoming the only competitor to complete the race, the others dropped out as participants began to face hazardous conditions including heavy snowfalls that hampered progress as well as the coldest conditions imaginable dropping to as low as -42 degrees at some points.

Such was the difficulty of the race that organisers changed both the rules and the route, which was to be almost 500km, to adapt to the conditions over the past week as every obstacle possible was faced by the competitors and finally just Kevin as he ploughed on through sleeping outside and at times making little or no progress due to heavy snow.

Welfare checks were regularly carried out on the Irish athlete as he continued through gruelling conditions and today, February Kevin has made it to the finish line much to the delight of organisers and supporters who have followed his progress throughout the week.

The Kerry man has flown the flag for Ireland and for endurance athletes with his ‘indomitable spirit’ according to race organisers bringing him safely to the finish line having conquered an endurance race like no other.

The amazing athlete had to survive the hazardous conditions with just the contents of his pulk and face adverse conditions at every turn in what organisers have said has been more of ‘expedition than a race’

Despite some tough moments Kevin has pressed on relentlessly through the conditions to become the winner of the race.

On top of the conditions Kevin had never skied more than 30km before tackling the race and what he says is a “huge challenge for my body mind and spirit.”

It has certainly been and the Kerry man has been reported as being in good spirts as he crossed the finish line and despite some very tough days he described the whole thing as ‘good craic’.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was such an adventure,” he said.

And this challenge was also undertaken by Kevin to support ASIAM, the Irish Autism charity that Kevin is fundraising for https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/500kmskiforautism

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