Spanish mountain runner Kilian Jornet has recently set a new speed record for the ascent and descent of the Matterhorn.
The 25-year-old completed a round trip of the 4476m peak in just 2hrs, 52mins, 2secs – knocking 22 minutes off the previous record. Setting off from the village of Cervinia in the Valle d’Aosta region of northwest Italy, Jornet climbed the iconic mountain from the Italian side, via the Arista Lion route.
“It has been a great day today, I’ve felt great physically and the conditions have been perfect. The Cervino is a childhood dream, and I am really happy I’ve been able to accomplish it, as I thought it would be extremely complicated “, said Kilian.
The challenge forms part of Kilian’s ‘Summits of My Life’ project, a 4-year-long personal challenge requiring him to run the length of the world’s greatest mountain ranges, while setting ascent and descent records for the most important peaks.
Future challenges will include an ascent of Russia’s Mt Elbrus (5,642m), and eventually an expedition to the summit of Mt Everest in 2015.
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