“There have been some really difficult moments,” she says. “But I’ve also felt so much peace and happiness being out here by myself. The expectations I used to feel have kind of disappeared. The only chatter in my head now is my own, and that feels incredibly liberating."

Smith, who battled rain and rough seas during her World's Toughest Row challenge, posted daily updates on Instagram to her more than 620,000 followers, including motivational moments that have kept her going strong.

She dives into what sparked that fearless decision and how she powered through brutal exhaustion, nonstop waves, and the deep loneliness of weeks alone at sea. It is a raw and inspiring look at what happens when you bet on yourself in the biggest way possible.

CNN News Central's Kate Bolduan, Sara Sidner and John Berman speak with 25-year-old Taryn Smith of Omaha, Nebraska. She just rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic alone.

After rowing for more than a month on the high seas, Taryn Smith, a human resources manager and yoga teacher from Nebraska, is getting set to cross the finish line.

“If I can do it, absolutely anyone can do it, because I’m not an ultra athlete, I’m not an elite athlete, I’m not an experienced sailor,” she said. “I think this is what life is all about. I think we’re meant to go on big adventures and challenge ourselves.”

American Taryn Smith tells The National about the moment she became the first solo woman to complete the World's Toughest Row, a race across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera, in the Canary Islands, to Antigua.

Smith is not only the “first solo woman to arrive at the finish line in Antigua,” but she’s also the “first American woman to ever have rowed solo in the World’s Toughest Row.”

For over a month has taken to social media to document her daily challenges and reflections, all while being met with waves of support from celebrities and fans from all over the globe. "Stay strong of heart Taryn, Day at a time. Mighty woman you are. Best to you," Brosnan commented on one of Smith's videos.

On December 14, Smith set out on her 3,000-mile journey from the Canary Islands to Antigua. The 25-year-old yoga instructor from Nebraska kept a video diary of her adventure on the high seas. On Thursday, after 46 days, 3 hours, and 37 minutes at sea, Smith accomplished her mission. Cheers erupted as Smith returned to dry ground.

Taryn Smith recently talked about her adventures with the Mary Lorraine Dance Center's competition team. She said her 10 years of dance training at MLDC taught her skills like discipline and coachability. “My goal isn’t to convince you to row across an ocean,” she told the dance team. “It is to demonstrate that you can do anything you want.”

Smith also has partnered with Girls on the Run, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young women through sports and mentorship. As an athlete, she said she’s seen firsthand the power of sports in shaping confidence and resilience.

“We are meant to be scared, we are meant to do things that are a little bit stressful because that is what pushes us to grow and be better.

“My gut instinct was, ‘That’s the coolest thing in the world.’ It’s so outrageous and audacious. It’s been hard to explain to people sometimes. I want to do something scary, push myself out of my comfort zone, but a lot of my why for this endeavor can’t be explained with words.”

Taryn Smith is not afraid to take a risk, especially when there’s an adventure involved… “You really can do anything you want,” Smith said. “It takes a lot of work and it can be scary, but it’s good to pursue big goals.”

That sense of adventure defines Smith’s outlook on living. It is why, having never rowed a boat, she decided to sign herself up for the World’s Toughest Row, a 3,000-mile unsupported race across the Atlantic Ocean in a rowboat.

Smith signed on to this unparalleled endeavor without prior rowing experience—only a love of adventure… Smith’s ocean row is a desire to live boldly, learn new skills, and take big risks. What seems like a crazy, absurd venture is exactly why she loves this newfound sport.

“We’re meant to go out and pursue really big goals and live boldly,” Smith said. “I think that if I can do it, absolutely, anyone can do it. And the most joyful part of this journey for me was getting to partner with Girls on the Run. The world’s a better place when girls do sports.

She’s authentic, vulnerable, witty, and wraps everything with a silver lining. That’s the young woman the world grew to love with each day’s update from the middle of the ocean. Taryn recorded a short reel of her highs and lows—her wins and struggles—and we were captivated.

Nebraska native Taryn Smith lived that reality, and in the end became the first American woman to solo row across the Atlantic Ocean in the World’s Toughest Row competition.