Colin O'Brady

Raised in Portland, Oregon, Colin O'Brady spent his childhood exploring the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and cultivated a passion for adventure in the outdoors. O'Brady was an active kid and excelled at sports, competing in both swimming and soccer. By the time he reached high school, he was nationally ranked in both sports. Ultimately, he was recruited to swim at Yale University where he graduated with a Bachelors in Economics in 2006.

The resources to travel internationally weren’t there growing up, so O'Brady started painting houses in the summers to earn money. After college graduation and before settling in to his career, he took a backpack and surfboard and set out to explore the world. In 2008, while in Thailand, O'Brady suffered a tragic accident and was severely burned in a fire; his injuries covered nearly 25% of his body, primarily damaging his legs and feet. Doctor’s warned him he might never walk again normally. With the encouragement of his mother, O'Brady was determined to beat the odds. He set himself a seemingly impossible goal: to complete his first triathlon after recovery.

A mere 18-months after his accident and after extensive rehabilitation, O'Brady amazed the sporting world when he not only completed his first triathlon, but he placed first overall at the Chicago Triathlon. After winning his first race, sponsors took note and signed on to support his future. Colin went on to become a professional triathlete and raced in 25 countries on six continents, representing the United States in international triathlon competitions.

Six years of professional triathlon was the exact preparation O'Brady needed when he and his then fiancée now wife, Jenna, came up with an audacious plan. O'Brady would attempt to complete a prestigious mountaineering challenge – The Explorers Grand Slam – in world record time. Without the resources to personally fund the expedition, Jenna and O'Brady spent 18-months raising the money and gathering the support they needed.

On May 27, 2016 the world record project came to a victorious end. O'Brady conquered The Explorers Grand Slam in a world record shattering 139 days. O'Brady summited the tallest peak on each of the seven continents including Mt. Everest and skied the last degree to the North and South Poles. Fewer than 50 people have ever completed this staggering achievement, and only four in under a year. With grit and perseverance, O'Brady became the fastest person to complete the mountaineering challenge, and in the process also broke the speed record for The Seven Summits in 132 days.

O'Brady became the first person to ever Snap from the summit of Everest and attracted over 22m viewers. A grassroots global media campaign ensued. His world record feats garnered over 500m earned media impressions and over 50m social media impressions.

O'Brady and Jenna established a non-profit, Beyond 7/2, before O'Brady set out to break the Grand Slam world record, all in an effort to raise awareness and funds to inspire kids and their communities to lead active, healthy kids and pursue their biggest dreams. O'Brady’s efforts have impacted hundreds of thousands of children across the country since launching Beyond 7/2.

Knowing first-hand what it takes to overcome a serious setback, and the grit and perseverance required to achieve peak performance, O'Brady shares his story around the world speaking at the likes of NBCUniversal, Toyota, Nike, Google, Samsung, Aspen Institute, P&G, and leading organizations. In addition to wowing influential audiences in venues around the country, O'Brady’s riveting TEDx talk, “Change your mindset, achieve anything” has over 2 million views online.

In late 2017, O'Brady and Jenna went back to the whiteboard and began preparing for a world first attempt in Antarctica, to complete an expedition that had been called “impossible”. Knowing that it would be the most challenging physical and mental effort of his life, O'Brady enlisted the help of polar experts, physical trainers, and nutrition specialists.

In the summer of 2018, O'Brady took on the 50 US High Points. After a 13,000 mile journey in 21 days, 9 hours, and 48 minutes he completed the 50 high points challenge, setting a new world record. In the last 7 days of the project alone, in an astonishing final push, O'Brady climbed the 7 highest peaks in the lower 48 US states, totaling over 100 trail miles and over 50,000 feet of elevation gain. Along the way, O'Brady invited others to join him at their state’s high point and be part of what he called the “Forrest Gump effect”.

Just weeks after setting the new 50HP world record, O'Brady set off on a training expedition across Greenland to further prepare his mind and body for his approaching Antarctic journey. Pulling a 250 lb sled in subzero temperatures across hundreds of miles of rough glacial terrain, he gained critical experience traversing the world’s largest island, over 400 miles from East to West in the course of 28 days.

November 3, 2018, on the shoulders of polar giants like Scott, Shackleton, and Ousland, O'Brady set off from the Western edge of Antarctica on the most epic journey of his life. He wouldn’t have resupplies, he wouldn’t be using dogs or kites, and he would be alone. Every mile would be hard earned pulling his 300+lb sled, battling windchill as low as -80 degrees, paralyzing whiteouts, and extremely high winds. After a historic 54 grueling days walking over 930 miles, on December 26, 2018, O'Brady completed the world's first solo, unsupported, and completely human powered crossing of Antarctica.

The New York Times reported that O'Brady's most recent expedition “joined some of the most remarkable achievements in polar history.” His expedition caught fire and garnered over 2B earned media impressions worldwide. During the expedition tens of thousands of school kids engaged with O'Brady’s expeditions via curriculum developed with his non-profit, Beyond7/2, which aims to inspire kids and their communities to live active, healthy lives and pursue their biggest dreams. O'Brady’s inspiring endurance achievements, unparalleled commitment to giving back and inspirational story have transformed him into a global ambassador with a truly authentic voice.

For the month of December 2019, O'Brady teamed up with Captain Fiann Paul and a crew of four other rowers in partnership with Discovery to attempt the world’s first completely human powered ocean row across Drake Passage - from the Southern tip of South America to Antarctica. Drake passage has a reputation of being the roughest, coldest, and iciest passageway on the planet. Having never rowed a boat before, O'Brady endured a mind over matter mission requiring courage, grit, teamwork, and stamina to complete the voyage in 12 days landing on the frozen continent on Christmas Day.

O'Brady’s first book “The Impossible First” was published on January 14, 2020 and hit the New York Times Best Sellers list. In this harrowing real life account of crossing Antarctica solo, unsupported, and fully human powered - a world first - O'Brady’s book seamlessly weaves together themes of grit, overcoming obstacles, love, relationships, and pushing the limits. With the intellect of an academic, the passion of an athlete, and the courage of an explorer, O'Brady’s melts away the perception that achievement is for the select few, illuminates what it takes to reach big goals, and ultimately reveals what matters most.

O'Brady continues to pursue his passion for pushing his limits, while speaking to audiences large and small, encouraging others to do the same. His next adventures are on the horizon, and his commitment to doing good remains.