Taryn Smith Becomes The First American Woman To Row Solo Across The Atlantic Ocean

February 3, 2026

When Taryn Smith from Omaha, Nebraska signed up to row across the Atlantic Ocean, she had one small problem.

She had never been on a rowboat.

Credit: World's Toughest Row

On December 14, 2025, Smith set out on an incredible journey to become the first American woman to compete in the World’s Toughest Row as a solo athlete — one of the most demanding endurance races on the planet.

After 46 days, 3 hours, and 37 minutes of rowing, she arrived on January 29, 2026, at Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua, completing more than 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, from San Sebastián, La Gomera, off the African coast.

Smith finished fifth overall in the women’s division and first in the women’s solo category, an extraordinary accomplishment for someone who had never rowed before committing to the challenge.

Throughout the journey, Smith documented her experience on Instagram, posting videos from the middle of the ocean using a Starlink satellite. Along the way, she shared honest reflections about resilience, discomfort, and perseverance.

“It’s good for us to be uncomfortable sometimes,” Smith said. “I think it’s a part of the human experience.”

Alone at sea for weeks, battling exhaustion and the elements, Smith proved that courage isn’t about having experience — it’s about being willing to try something hard anyway.

Watch her interview below: