At 59 years old, South African Mike Horn is considered by many to be the greatest adventurer in the world. His track record is nothing short of extraordinary: he has circumnavigated the equator without motorized transport, crossed the Arctic Circle solo, traversed Antarctica at its widest point, and reached the North Pole in winter—completely in darkness and without external assistance. He has also climbed K2 without supplemental oxygen and traveled around the globe fourteen times. But among all his feats, there’s one detail as surprising as his expeditions: his remarkably high daily intake of extra virgin olive oil.
During his most extreme journeys, Mike Horn consumes up to two liters of EVOO per day, making it a key element in his survival strategy. His daily calorie intake can exceed 12,000 calories, especially in polar environments where he drags sleds weighing over 200 kilos for weeks, battling extreme cold, cutting winds, and constant darkness. To achieve that level of energy intake, he relies on foods like muesli and oats, combined with high-calorie ingredients such as honey, malt powder, and—above all—extra virgin olive oil, which not only provides energy in the form of healthy fats but also helps maintain muscle and brain function under extreme conditions.
Horn even freezes EVOO into small blocks that he consumes as he walks, using them as portable calorie supplements. This practice, as unusual as it is effective, has become one of his trademarks and showcases the versatility and nutritional value of extra virgin olive oil, even in the harshest environments on the planet.
In one of his most dangerous expeditions, in September 2019, Horn faced a life-or-death situation alongside his companion Børge Ousland, when Arctic ice began breaking and drifting at high speed. “For the first time, I knew that without rescue, I would die there,” he later admitted. Nevertheless, he managed to survive once again, thanks to his physical endurance, mental fortitude, and meticulously planned diet.
Beyond his superhuman achievements—11 unprecedented expeditions, 9 published books, multiple television programs, and his educational initiative PangaeaX, a floating academy for young explorers—Mike Horn embodies the limits of human exploration. And among the keys to his success, extra virgin olive oil holds an essential place.
Because in the world of extreme challenges, even the smallest ingredient can make the difference between success and failure. And for Mike Horn, EVOO is not just food—it’s vital fuel.
