For Rebecca Ferry, one of Britain’s most accomplished endurance athletes, the words “you can’t do that” are a powerful motivator.
Known for her determination, Rebecca says, “Everything I’ve done, people have said: ‘Don’t be so silly. You’ll never do it.’ I’ve used that as a driving force. The more people say ‘no,’ the more driven I am to prove them wrong.”
A seasoned equestrian, Pilates instructor, former lawyer, and mother of five, Rebecca has racked up a list of impressive feats. She’s competed in the Marathon des Sables—a six-day ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert—and became the first British woman to climb both Everest and K2 in one season.
Rebecca also holds the British record for summiting the most peaks above 26,250 feet in one year and has soloed across Nepal, skydived from helicopters, and will soon attempt to row solo across the Atlantic, aiming to beat the 40-day, 19-hour record set in 2022.
What inspires her to pursue such dangerous feats? “It’s curiosity and a zest for life,” she explains. “I enjoy the challenge and the sense of resilience that comes with pushing through, and I want my kids to know that it’s okay to think, ‘I can’t do that,’ but try anyway.”
As a passionate equestrian with her own horses, Rebecca has connected with royalty; Zara Tindall, niece of the King, has ridden one of her horses professionally. Rebecca even gifted Zara a Shetland pony, Dermot, for her children to learn to ride.
“My children had a little black Shetland named Dermot, and I wanted him to have a wonderful life, so I gave him to Zara for her children. He’s an incredible pony, loved by all, and well-deserved of that love.”
An ambassador for Women in Sport, Rebecca has high praise for Zara. “She’s an outstanding athlete. Balancing her career in a male-dominated sport with being a mother of three is truly trailblazing. Like many women in risky sports, there’s a lot of ‘How can you do this with kids?’ but Zara, and many women like her, defy those expectations.”
