Anna Boden

Anna Boden is an adventurer, endurance rider and motivational speaker, recognised as the only person to have won both the Gaucho Derby in 2022 and the Mongol Derby in 2025. Known for competing in some of the most physically and mentally demanding races in the world, Anna has built a reputation for resilience, courage and elite performance in extreme environments. Her remarkable achievements across global endurance competitions make her a highly sought-after female motivational speaker, inspiring audiences with powerful lessons on perseverance, adaptability and determination.

Anna’s passion for horse riding began in childhood and developed into a lifelong pursuit of endurance challenges. Alongside her sporting ambitions, she studied Stem Cell Biology at University of Edinburgh, demonstrating the discipline and curiosity that would later define her approach to extreme racing. In 2018, she entered the Wild Coast Race, a gruelling four-day, 300-kilometre race along South Africa’s rugged coastline. Competing against experienced riders from around the world, Anna finished in second place despite being the youngest competitor in the field, marking her arrival as a formidable endurance athlete.

Anna’s reputation grew further in 2022 when she competed in the Gaucho Derby, one of the toughest horse races on earth. The ten-day, 500-kilometre challenge across the remote landscapes of Argentina required riders to navigate harsh terrain while partnering with multiple horses throughout the journey. Anna completed the race in just eight days, securing victory and establishing herself among the world’s elite endurance riders. In 2025, she returned to competition on an even larger scale at the Mongol Derby, riding 1,000 kilometres across the Mongolian steppe while switching between around 30 semi-wild horses and carrying only minimal equipment.

Anna is hired as a motivational speaker because her story embodies resilience, courage and elite mental endurance. Drawing on her experiences navigating extreme environments, managing uncertainty and pushing beyond perceived limits, she delivers powerful insights into performance under pressure. As the only rider to win both the Gaucho Derby and the Mongol Derby, Anna shares lessons on preparation, adaptability and mindset, inspiring audiences to tackle ambitious goals with confidence and determination.