Ann Bancroft
1955– · American (Minnesota) · Modern Era
Known for: First woman to reach both Poles—crossed the ice to the North Pole and skied across Antarctica
Bancroft was a teacher who became the first woman to reach the North Pole on foot as part of the 1986 Steger expedition. She later became the first woman to ski across Greenland and, with Liv Arnesen, the first women's team to ski across Antarctica.
She is openly lesbian and has been a role model for LGBTQ+ athletes. She founded the Ann Bancroft Foundation to support girls' participation in the outdoors. She is passionate about women's participation in adventure and climate change awareness.
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