Teenage girl becomes youngest to run seven marathons on seven continents

In 2009, Winter Vinecki’s father passed away after a battle with prostate cancer. The then-nine-year-old vowed to run a marathon on all seven continents before her 15th birthday to raise money for prostate cancer research.

On Sunday, Nov. 10, Vinecki reached her goal, completing the Athens Classic Marathon to cross the final continent off her list. She became the youngest person to finish a marathon on all seven continents. Her final race was fitting, as it follows the original Olympic marathon route from Marathon, Greece, to Athens.

Along her five-year journey Vinecki has raised $400,000 for prostate cancer research.

The Salem, Ore., native finished races in the U.S., Kenya, Antarctica, Mongolia, Peru, New Zealand and Greece. Her fastest result was her first on home turf in Eugene, Ore., where she ran 3:45:04.

Vinecki has been racing since she was five, and is a Ironkids Triathlon champion.

She lives in Park City, Utah, where she trains as a aerial skier and hopes to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Her mother, Dawn Estelle, who is a doctor in Salem, also ran all seven races with her.