Ironman Ali Riza Bilal becomes first Turk to achieve historic feat at South Pole
Ali Riza Bilal raises the Turkish flag at the South Pole, January 14, 2025. (Photo via Bilal's Instagram Account)
Ali Riza Bilal, a former Olympic athlete and Ironman titleholder, has made history as the first Turk to reach the South Pole. After a grueling 51-day journey, Bilal reached his destination on Nov. 21, 2024, covering 933 kilometers (579.7 miles) through extreme weather, including temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius (4.4 Fahrenheit).
Upon arriving at the South Pole, he raised the Turkish flag and sang the Turkish national anthem.
Incredible solo expedition
Bilal embarked on his journey from the coastline of Antarctica, carrying a 100-kilogram sled as he followed the renowned Messner Route. Remarkably, only nine people in history have completed this solo trek along this particular route.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including broken ski bindings and poles, as well as damaged equipment, Bilal persevered, driven by his desire to honor his country.
Overcoming adversity on road to success
Throughout the 51-day journey, Bilal encountered constant physical and psychological challenges. “I faced extreme difficulty and pain during the journey. I envisioned and motivated myself by imagining planting our flag at the South Pole and singing our national anthem. At that moment, the pain and psychological struggles disappeared, and only pride remained,” Bilal shared.
His determination and resilience were key factors in completing such a historic feat.
Historic achievement and sense of pride
After raising the Turkish flag and singing the national anthem at the South Pole, Bilal reflected on his achievement: “I am truly happy and proud of what I have accomplished. It’s hard to believe that I did something like this.”
Ali Riza Bilal’s successful expedition has cemented his place in history, and he will always be remembered as the first Turk to reach the South Pole.
Who is Ali Riza Bilal?
Ali Riza Bilal (born 1973) is a Turkish rower and an accomplished athlete. He made history by representing Türkiye in rowing at the 1992 Summer Olympics, becoming the first Turkish rower to compete in the Olympic Games.
In 1991, Bilal finished fifth in the single sculls event at the World Junior Rowing Championships in Spain. In 1992, he also represented Türkiye at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships in Glasgow, where he achieved third place in the single calls event.
That same year, he competed in the Barcelona Summer Olympics in the single sculls category. Unfortunately, during the race, he became ill at the 1000-meter mark and fell into the water, unable to finish the race.
In addition to rowing, Ali Riza Bilal has a passion for outdoor sports. In 2008, he and his team placed third at the World Championship of the Expedition Adventure Race in Patagonia.
He has since continued his athletic career in triathlon.
