At 95, He Skied at the North Pole to Fulfill a Lifelong Dream and Set a World Record

For most people, reaching the North Pole is a once-in-a-lifetime dream. For Richard “Dick” Eitel, it was a dream that stayed with him for nearly a century, and at 95 years old, he finally made it happen, carving his name into history along the way.

Born on 17 December 1929, Eitel has always led an active life. A lover of tennis, cross-country skiing, and the outdoors, he carried an adventurous spirit well into his 90s. But one goal always remained unfinished: standing at the very top of the world. Last month, with his family by his side, he finally set course for the frozen wilderness of the Arctic.

The journey began aboard the polar exploration vessel Le Commandant Charcot, which carried Eitel and his family thousands of miles north. On 10 August, after days of anticipation, they arrived at the legendary 90°N, the geographic North Pole. At that moment, Eitel officially became the Guinness World Records holder for the oldest person to visit the North Pole, at 95 years and 236 days old. He surpassed the previous record held by Edward Stahl, who made the trek in 2022 at the age of 90.