2,000 miles in 43 days: American woman becomes fastest and youngest to row Mid-Pacific

A 31-year-old American woman has attained two new Guinness World Records titles - and a special interview on the Jennifer Hudson Show - after becoming the youngest and fastest woman in the world to row across the Mid-Pacific ocean.

Kelsey Pfendler (b. 5 July 1994, USA) battled the waves for 3,776.2 km (2,039 nautical miles) between 21 May and 4 July this year, eventually completing the exhausting journey from Monterey, California to O'ahu, Hawaii, USA aboard her boat Lily.

She shared stories about her experience on the talk show this 29 September, awing crowds with her determined spirit and physical strength, before GWR Adjudicator Hannah Ortman took to the stage and surprised her with two well-deserved award certificates.

At the start of her record-breaking row, Kelsey said her goal was to "become the first American woman, the youngest woman, and the fastest woman to complete the crossing solo" - and that she did.

Finishing with a time of 43 days 17 hr 55 min, she nearly doubled Lia Ditton's (UK) record of 86 days to become the new title holder for the fastest solo row of the Mid-Pacific east to west (female). She was also quicker than the male record holder, who completed his row in 52 days.

And in addition, Kelsey also claimed the record for the youngest person to row the Mid-Pacific solo (female) - achieved one day before her 32nd birthday, at the age of 31 years and 364 days old.

"I truly love ocean rowing," she said to GWR. "I love every piece of it. I love the repetition and how much of yourself you have to give to the process every day. I love the strategy. I loved the opportunity to be alone, I love the ocean. I loved waking up every day with a clear goal for what I had to do."