Vanessa O'Brien facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vanessa O'Brien
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Vanessa O'Brien in 2015
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| Born | 2 December 1964 Grosse Pointe, Michigan, U.S.
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| Nationality | British and American |
| Alma mater | New York University Stern School of Business |
| Known for | Extreme tourism |
Vanessa Audi Rhys O'Brien is an amazing explorer and adventurer. She was born on December 2, 1964. She is famous for being the first woman to reach both the highest point on Earth (Mount Everest) and the deepest point in the ocean (Challenger Deep). Vanessa also holds a Guinness World Record! She climbed the highest mountain on every continent, called the Seven Summits, in just 295 days. This was the fastest time ever for a woman. She is also a special member of important exploration groups.
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Vanessa's Early Life and Work
Vanessa O'Brien grew up in Michigan, USA. She studied economics and finance at New York University Stern School of Business. After college, Vanessa worked in finance. She was a director at big banks like Morgan Stanley and Bank of America.
Amazing Adventures and Records
Vanessa O'Brien loves to explore! She has climbed many famous mountains. She even reached the top of five of the world's tallest mountains, which are over 8,000 meters high. These include Mount Everest and K2. She was the first American woman to climb K2. She was also the first British woman to climb K2 and return safely.
The Explorers Grand Slam
Vanessa decided to take on a huge challenge called the Explorers Grand Slam. This means reaching the highest mountain on every continent (the Seven Summits). It also means reaching both the North Pole and the South Pole. She completed this amazing feat in just 11 months. This made her the first woman to do it in less than a year! She is only the 8th woman in the world to achieve this.
Deepest Point on Earth
On June 12, 2020, Vanessa went on an expedition to the Pacific Ocean. She explored the very bottom of the Challenger Deep. This is the deepest part of the ocean. She spent three hours mapping the bottom of the "Eastern Pool" of Challenger Deep. This dive helped scientists learn that the ocean floor there is not flat, but slopes.
Journey to Space
Vanessa O'Brien also traveled to space! On August 4, 2022, she flew aboard the Blue Origin NS-22 mission. This was a sub-orbital spaceflight. She flew with five other people to a height of 107 kilometers (about 66 miles) above sea level. The flight lasted about 10 minutes and 20 seconds. This made her the first woman to complete the Explorers' Extreme Trifecta. This means she reached extremes on land, at sea, and in the air (space).
Helping Others
Vanessa also uses her adventures to help others. In 2013, she took the American Red Cross flag to the North Pole. In 2017, she ran the Boston Marathon to help the American Red Cross raise over $512,000 for charity.
See also
- List of people who descended to Challenger Deep
