Masha Gordon failed PE at school and admits that she “opted out” of sport from her pre-teen years until her mid-30s when she discovered hiking. Just 6 years later, the mother of 2 now holds the record for the fastest ascent by a woman of the Seven Summits as well as the women’s record for the Adventurer’s Grand Slam (the Seven Summits plus the North and South Pole).

In this interview we discuss mothers (or parents) guilt, the challenges she faced during her epic adventure, why you need to surround yourself with people who celebrate your small wins and the importance of not letting what you couldn't do as a child shape your decisions as an adult.