birth_place nationality name birth_date known_for article_title birth_name occupation
plymouth , devon , england , united kingdom united kingdom ben saunders 5 august 1977 first to the south pole , youngest solo trek to the return north geographic pole journey on shackleton and scott 's route ben saunders -lrb- explorer -rrb-
 benjamin john saunders explorer , motivational speaker
ben saunders -lrb- explorer -rrb-

benjamin john `` ben '' saunders -lrb- born 5 august 1977 in plymouth , england -rrb- is a british polar explorer , endurance athlete , and motivational speaker .
he is best known for leading the first ever return journey to the south pole on foot via shackleton and scott 's route in 2013 -- 14 , for skiing solo to the north pole in 2004 , and for blogging live from his expeditions .
he is the third in history and the youngest by ten years to reach the north pole alone and on foot .
saunders has skied more than 3,000 miles -lrb- 4,828 km -rrb- on polar expeditions since 2001 .
he holds the record for the longest human-powered polar journey in history -lrb- 2,888 km -rrb- and for the longest solo arctic journey by a briton -lrb- 1,032 km -rrb- .
`` i am an explorer of limits -- geographically , physically and mentally .
it 's about pure human endeavour , and the way in which i can inspire others to explore their own personal potential . ''
