Saint Lucian Jordan Florenville made history on August 31, 2026, by running all the way around the island. The Babonneau native finished the Iyanola 100 in 35 hours, with help from other runners who joined him during the journey.
The fitness app Strava recorded Florenville’s run at 176.5 kilometres. He started on the east coast and decided to avoid the Barre D’Isle, following the coastline from Point Du Cap, the island’s northernmost point, to Cape Moule-à-Chique, the southernmost.
Florenville was not alone on his journey. Along the way, he was joined by co-runners like Saint Lucian Olympic long-distance runner Zepherinus Joseph. His most regular partners were Clendon Donai and Philan James, who each ran an entire marathon’s length in support of Florenville.
Friends from his hometown also joined him, including nature tour entrepreneur Jn Louis Mathurin, known as Father Nature. His immediate family, church members, and others supported him at different points in the journey.
The Iyanola 100 is merely a smaller part of a much larger vision for Florenville, who aims to one day become the first Saint Lucian to scale Mount Everest. The trek also aligned with national emancipation celebrations and had backing from the National Reparations Committee.
Florenville told the St. Lucia Times that this hike was one of the hardest things he has ever done.
“Difficulty point of view, if 10 is extremely difficult, it’s a solid 9. It was hard,” he said.
“It was longer than I thought it was going to be. The terrain was more challenging than I thought it was going to be. But man, honestly, thank God for the people. I think had it not been for the people here, I would have still been in maybe Canaries by now. So 120% goes to the people, and I don’t want to start listing names because there’s a lot of people to list. But everybody here and some people who are not even here right now, they are the reason this was able to happen”.
The Iyanola 100 had only a little support from businesses and sponsors in Saint Lucia. There are still chances to help Florenville. He is working on a documentary about his achievements that still needs funding, and he is also looking for long-term sponsors.
“We need funding. And we also need people to sponsor young people a bit more. The people are ready for Everest! So let’s make it happen. Whatever ministry, whatever individual, present yourself; I’m ready. The GoFundMe link is coming very soon.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring Jordan can contact him through his official social media accounts or by calling +1 (758) 584-4654 or +1 (758) 287-0365.
He did very good hiking around the island, completing it still full of energy, I’m hoping he gets the support and funds he needs very soon to climb Mount Everest that he wishes to, not forgetting he did climb both pitons, and mount gimme in one day, with some friends, proves one is capable of doing anything they desire to do, as long as they have the support they need.
To climb Mount Everest he has to overcome the cold, the cost (USD 250 000.00), and the physical exertion! And by the way Mount Everest is 4 miles taller than the combined heights of Mount Gimie, Gros Piton, and Petit Piton!
Try Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa’s tallest mountain, first!
You don’t just climb mount Everest on a whim. It’s not like climbing mount gimie in a day and being done with it. It’s a bit easier now but you still need years of mountain and rock climbing experience. You need be at your peak physically, able to withstand the extreme cold. You need to handle the mental fatigue of living at the base of the mountain for weeks, with little food and unsanitary conditions.
There’s is a very real chance to of dying on mount everest and if you end up getting seriously injured no one will be able to help you.
That’s not even considering the volatile weather, random avalanches and cost. It’s very expensive
Its great that he is ambitious but he needs to be careful here. Imo he should try one of the easier Seven summits. Mount Kilimanjaro is a good starting point, it’s difficult but not as life threatening.