T.V. PRESENTER AND ATHLETE LOUISE MINCHIN CROSSES GLOBE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTUROUS WOMEN

It's not about winning or being competitive. It's about pushing physical and mental boundaries

- ROSALIND POWELL

Shortly after leaving the comfort of the BBC Breakfast sofa in 2021, Louise Minchin found herself criss-crossing the globe – climbing mountains, taking part in triathlons and free diving under ice. She cycled 745 miles across Argentina, swam in shark-infested waters and entered a Half Ironman competition.

But her biggest challenge to date was having to manoeuvre her body, like a contortionist, through a tiny hole into the pitch-black darkness of a cave in the Mendip Hills in Somerset. “I’m claustrophobic, so even thinking about going into a tight space gives me sweaty armpits,” says the broadcaster on a video call.

“I had to think of all the things I’ve learnt over the years from being an endurance athlete, such as: ‘Calm down, breathe and don’t panic.’ It was very unlikely that thousands of tonnes of earth would squash me in that moment, but that was my fear.”

Louise, 54, is no stranger to physical challenges. In 2013, inspired by filming at the National Cycling Centre’s velodrome, she decided to train for triathlons. She went on to represent Great Britain in her age group at the 2015 world and 2016 European championships.

COPING STRATEGY

“It’s not about winning or being competitive,” she insists. “It’s about pushing physical and mental boundaries, and what I get back from that is an enormous amount of resilience and ability to cope with things.” 

Louise is drawn to “endurance, courage and bravery”, but noticed that the adventure news stories she reported on were mainly about men.