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The Atacama Crossing is the Grand Finale of the 4 Deserts Grand Slam / Plus 2024-25

Twelve remarkable individuals are set to achieve the 4 Deserts Grand Slam (Plus) when they complete the Atacama Crossing (Chile) in March 2025.

In March 2025, twelve remarkable individuals will finish the ultimate challenge: completing the 4 Deserts Grand Slam or 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus at the Atacama Crossing (Chile). This monumental feat requires competitors to conquer all four (4 Deserts Grand Slam) or five (4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus) of RacingThePlanet’s gruelling ultramarathons within twelve months.


The Atacama Crossing is the final leg of this arduous journey, following the Namib Race, the Gobi March, RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year-Race (Jordan), and The Last Desert (Antarctica).

Among these elite participants, four are set to achieve the 4 Deserts Grand Slam for the second time – with two of them adding the “plus”.

While completing a single 250 km / 155-mile ultramarathon is a remarkable accomplishment on its own, the idea of returning for more—and doing so multiple times within one year—is reserved for only the most dedicated and resilient.

To put this in perspective, over 10,000 people have finished a RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon, yet fewer than 400 have completed all 4 Deserts to join the exclusive 4 Deserts Club (with no time limit). However:

  • 89 people have completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam to date.
  • 18 people have completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus to date.

The line up for 2024-2025 Grand Slam / Plus is remarkable:

  • 25% are women.
  • The youngest is under 20.
  • The oldest is 70 years young.
  • 11 nationalities (!) among just 12 challengers.

Three new records will be set:

  • Youngest person ever to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam or 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus by Mike Gawron Jnr.
  • Oldest person ever to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus by Ivan Schmidt. He will join four others in their 70s who have completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam.
  • Several countries will be added to the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus history books: Denmark, The Netherlands, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Australia and India.

THE LINE UP FOR THE 2024-2025 4 DESERTS GRAND SLAM / PLUS IS:


WHEN ASKED WHY THEY WOULD WANT RACE 1,250 KMS IN TWELVE MONTHS

For Tania from Mexico, it is simple: "I love the idea of going around the world discovering and exploring these extreme terrains in the most humble and natural way (by foot!) while challenging and working on my own limits."

Christian from Argentina is set to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam for the second time, more than 10 years after completing it in 2012. He met two other racers who were also completing this feat and said: "The principal reason that made me try to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam again is the opportunity to see my very close friends Vicente and Jeison, to share the time together, and to have more special moments doing what we like to do, in wonderful places that takes from us the best we have as persons in a different time of our lives. We all think that we are blessed to have the opportunity to do this a second time and is also a very good reason to give to our children an excellent legacy of what you can do with effort and when you do things from the bottom of your heart."

Sal from Australia: "When I realised no Australian male or female had done the 5 deserts I wanted to be the first!!"

Inia from New Zealand: “10 year anniversary [since completing the 4 Deserts Grand Slam in 2014] and to see if I’m still fit enough! Also, it forms part of my 8 on 8 challenge to celebrate my 50th birthday and raise money and awareness for our charity, Kia Mau, Kia Ora. Don’t know what I’m gonna do when I turn 60!"

WHEN ASKED HOW THEY ARE FEELING GOING INTO RACE 4 OF THE 4 DESERTS GRAND SLAM (PLUS)

As they go into the grand finale race in the challenge:

  • Vicente finished on the podium twice – winning the Namib Race and coming 3rd at the Gobi March.
  • Maigua has been on the women’s podium at all four races – coming 1st at RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race (Jordan). She has also finished in the overall Top 10 at every race.

WHEN DID YOU START PLANNING FOR THE 4 DESERTS GRAND SLAM (PLUS)

Inia has been planning it for years: "I have been planning it for years - the race on every continent challenge. Finally got the push from my fiancé Vicki who has been a huge motivation and support." The 4 Deserts Grand Slam makes up four of the eight continents that Inia will be running on this year!

Sal was a bit more hurried: "I had planned on the Gobi March being the first race but didn’t actually understand it all. Mary said, 'Sal if you wanted to do the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus you have to do Namibia and it is in 3 weeks’ time...' so it all happened quickly!!"

For Christian, it started as a small and crazy idea: "We decided to do this in a talk that we had last year and it started as a small and crazy idea. Now we are here, starting the final desert, making a pause in our lives of families, jobs, and responsibilities that we have."

The achievement of completing the 4 Deserts Grand Slam or 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus is an extraordinary feat that goes far beyond just running ultramarathons. These athletes are not only pushing their bodies to their limits, but they are also navigating extreme environments, running 1,000 - 1,250 km in a mere twelve months is a challenge few can even imagine, let alone attempt, but it is the journey that makes it so remarkable.

Every step of the way, these competitors are pushed to the brink—mentally, physically, and financially. Yet, it is this very challenge that makes the sense of achievement so profound. The moment they cross that final finish line in San Pedro de Atacama, it is not just about the kilometres run—it’s about the immense effort, sacrifice, and resilience it took to get there. They have not only completed a series of the toughest races on Earth, they have done so with a level of determination and planning that most wouldn’t dream of. The pride that comes with completing the 4 Deserts Grand Slam / Plus is indescribable—it’s a recognition of the boundaries they have pushed, the limits they have shattered, and the strength they have found within themselves.

As you follow the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2025, look out for these people whose goal is much bigger than just completing this one race but the whole series in under 12 months.