Sports
Fernanda Maciel on Her Salar de Uyuni FKT and Next Steps
The ultrarunner completed 173 km at 3,700 meters of altitude in 19 hours and championed women in trail running.
In a conversation on XTREMMA Sports with Shubi Guimarães, Fernanda Maciel reflected on her crossing of Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni. The athlete conquered 173 km at high altitude in 19 hours and outlined her upcoming plans on the ultramarathon circuit.
Fresh from Bolivia, Brazilian ultrarunner Fernanda Maciel has completed another extreme challenge in her career: a Fastest Known Time (FKT) crossing of Salar de Uyuni. She covered roughly 173 km across flat terrain while battling the relentless toll of high altitude, crossing the salt flat at approximately 3,700 meters above sea level.
With an accumulated elevation gain of just 300 meters, her main opponents were the thin air and the endless white horizon. The Brazilian runner initially planned to run as a duo with an American teammate, but had to tackle the journey solo after her partner was unable to travel. Her support crew during the crossing consisted of a support vehicle and two camera operators who also assisted with water and warm clothing. Fernanda completed the route in around 19 hours, beating her own expectations for the high-altitude challenge.
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Spiritual connection and documentary release
Beyond the athletic achievement, Fernanda highlighted the deep inner dimension of the experience in the Bolivian desert. The challenge reaffirmed her passion for endurance sports and served as a strong foundation for physical and mental preparation ahead of upcoming competitions. The entire Salar de Uyuni project was captured on film and is set for release as a documentary between February and March.
Race calendar: Patagonia and a return to the UTMB circuit
Fernanda's next steps are already set on the international racing calendar. Following Uyuni, she is targeting the UTMB Bariloche event in Argentine Patagonia. For the first quarter of the following year, she plans to take on an extremely demanding technical race, alongside confirming her return to the TDS at UTMB Mont-Blanc—a race she had to drop out of last season due to a torn foot ligament.
A message of inspiration for women on the trails
Wrapping up the conversation, Fernanda shared a clear message encouraging women's presence in mountain sports. The ultrarunner emphasized that the value of trail running goes far beyond podiums and medals, lying instead in the feeling of freedom, the courage to tackle trails without fear, and reconnecting with one's essence through movement and mutual support among women.
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