Sarah Outen has been shortlisted for the title in the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Awards after her recordbreaking row across the Indian Ocean.

The 24-year-old, from Buckingham Road in Oakham, completed the crossing in 124 days making her the first woman and the youngest person ever to row from Australia to Mauritius alone.

Sarah raised £16,000 for Arthritis Care and £10,000 for the Arthritis Research Campaign in memory of her father Derek who died suddenly in June 2006. He had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since Sarah was a toddler.

She said: “I’m really excited and pleased to be nominated for the award, but for me the ocean was about the personal and physical challenge rather than the awards.

“I completed my goal and have moved on with grieving for my dad, so everything else is just the icing on the cake.”

Sarah’s trip was packed with drama as she battled the waves.

One of her scariest moments came on day 90 when her boat Serendipity capsized and the lifeline which attached her to it was caught.

She was thrown out of the boat and had to unclip the safety harness to get back on board.

Disaster also struck when she capsized on the reef just yards from the shores of Mauritius, but she made it to land on August 3 and returned to Rutland two weeks later.

Since then Sarah has been busy writing a book, hosting talks to community groups and dreaming of future challenges.

She said: “There is nothing I’m prepared to reveal yet but it’s likely to involve a big journey so watch this space.”

The Cosmopolitan awards winners will be announced on November 11.