Milly Young Sets New Female Fastest Known Time on the Matterhorn

Australian athlete Milly Young completed the Lion Crest route on the Matterhorn (4,478 m) from Breuil‑Cervinia and back in 5 hours 17 minutes 43 seconds on 22 July 2026. Her solo ascent, supported by fixed ropes and a pacer, Rhys MacAllister, reached the summit in roughly 3 hours 22 minutes. The performance lowers the previous female Fastest Known Time set by Sweden’s Emelie Forsberg in 2013 by about 34 minutes (5 h 51 m 35 s). Young started just after 11:30 from the church in Cervinia, chose a later start to avoid crowds on the technical sections, and reported near‑perfect mountain conditions. During the climb she crossed paths with Nadir Maguet, who was attempting the men's record on the same day.

The record is classified as a "supported" FKT, meaning the route used existing fixed ropes and the pacer assistance on the upper section. Young’s achievement adds a new milestone to the history of women on the iconic Alpine peak.