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4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus 2024-25: Maigua Ojeda Perez Finishes On Top
Ten remarkable individuals completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus at the Atacama Crossing (Chile) in March 2025.
This is the ultimate challenge which requires competitors to conquer all five of RacingThePlanet’s gruelling 250km ultramarathons within twelve months.
- Before March 2025, only 18 people in the world had completed this challenge.
- Three people completed the Grand Slam for the second time – two of them adding the “plus”.
Just to complete this feat is incredible. Not only did ten people complete it, but…
Maigua Ojeda Perez from Spain achieved a podium place for the women and finished in the overall Top 11 at every one of the five races and was the winner of this challenge.
Maigua, 33 years old, is a sports science coach focussed on giving women the confidence to take on ultrarunning.
The Namib Race was her first RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon.
RESULTS
These are based on the rank achieved at each race:
Three New Records Were Set:
- Youngest person ever to complete the Grand Slam or Grand Slam Plus by Mike Gawron Jnr.
- Oldest person ever to complete the Grand Slam Plus by Ivan Schmidt. He joins four others in their 70s who have completed the Grand Slam.
- Two new countries were added to the Grand Slam Plus history books: Denmark and The Netherlands.
The line up for 2024-2025 Grand Slam / Plus was remarkable:
- 27% were women.
- The youngest was under 20.
- The oldest was 70 years young.
- 11 nationalities (!) among just 11 challengers.
While completing a single 250 km / 155-mile ultramarathon is a remarkable accomplishment on its own, the idea of returning for more—and doing so multiple times within one year—is reserved for only the most dedicated and resilient.
To put this in perspective, over 10,000 people have finished a RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon, yet fewer than 400 have completed all 4 Deserts to join the exclusive 4 Deserts Club (with no time limit).
Tania Carmona was first person from Mexico to achieve the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus and said:
“It truly was an experience of a lifetime. I enjoyed every minute of it, from the travelling to the community and everything in between. It’s been a bit overwhelming finishing a project that took over my life for a year. I am confident the RacingThePlanet races have given me the experience and confidence to tackle any challenge ahead.”
THE LINE UP FOR THE 2024-2025 GRAND SLAM / PLUS WAS:
The achievement of completing the 4 Deserts Grand Slam or 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus is an extraordinary feat that goes far beyond just running ultramarathons. These athletes are not only pushing their bodies to their limits, but they are also navigating extreme environments. Running 1,000—1,250 km in a mere 12 months is a challenge few can even imagine, let alone attempt, but it is the journey that makes it so remarkable.
Every step of the way, these competitors are pushed to the brink—mentally, physically, and financially. Yet, it is this very challenge that makes the sense of achievement so profound. The moment they cross that final finish line in San Pedro de Atacama, it is not just about the kilometres run—it’s about the immense effort, sacrifice, and resilience it took to get there. They have not only completed a series of the toughest races on Earth, they have done so with a level of determination and planning that most wouldn’t dream of. The pride that comes with completing the 4 Deserts Grand Slam / Plus is indescribable—it’s a recognition of the boundaries they have pushed, the limits they have shattered, and the strength they have found within themselves.
To find out more to take on the 4 Deserts Grand Slam, and the full bios of those who have completed it, go to: https://www.racingtheplanet.com/4_deserts_grand_slam_plus