This week has already been full of monumental achievements from a host of different women. From crossing oceans to breaking glass ceilings, here are the ladies who have made it happen this week.

Michelle Payne

As fairytale stories go, they don't come much bigger, or more improbable, than Michelle Payne's. On Saturday, the Australian Jockey became the first woman to ever win the Melbourne Cup, the world's most prestigious horse race. The fact that she did it on a horse with odds of 100/1, makes the 30-year-old's achievments even more stunning.

Payne has battled the death of her mother, two potentially career-ending falls and rampant sexism from the horse racing community. Her winning words to owners who doubted her: 'Get stuffed.'

Sarah Outen

During an epic voyage, which has spanned 1,676 days, 25,000 miles and has raised £45,000 for charity, British adventurer Sarah Outen has become the first woman to cross the globe using just her own power; rowing, kayaking and cycling her way from London to London.

During the adventure, Sarah endured minus 40 temepartures, tropical storms and even a bear attack, before being reunited with her family and partner, who she proposed to in 2013.

Susie Wolff

It's not all good news this week: Susie Wolff - who was the first woman to take part in a grand prix weekend in more than 20 years - has decided to retire from the sport. 

Her decision came after she realised that her dream of racing in F1 'wasn't going to happen.'

After initially starting in the German Touring Car Championship, Susie moved to Williams in 2012 where she was a test driver. Although her goal hasn't been realised, her hope is that she can inspire the next generation of female drivers trying to break into a predominantly male industry.

'My progression into F1 came to represent so much more than a racing driver simply trying to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

'It was also the hope that finally there may again be a female on the starting grid. I rode the wave, was energised by all the support and fought hard. There were those who wanted it to happen. Those who didn't.'

Eva Carneiro

Once a figue of quiet prominence in the ruthless world of men's football, former Chelsea sports doctor Eva Carneiro was flung into the public eye after Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho blamed her - seemingly without reason - for ruining the team's chances after she was called on to tend to an injured player in August. 

It has been widely acknowledged that she was made a scapegoat for the incident, but rather than wilting, Carneiro has hit back at Chelsea and Mourinho, launching legal action, both against the club and Mourinho himself.

During a rare interview last year, Carniero said: 'As a male you can aspire to having a successful professional life and a fulfilling personal life. Women are told that if they want to have both, at best it's going to be difficult and at worse it's going to be a disaster.

'Ninety percent of the mail I receive is from young women wanting to perform the same role. We need to tell them its possible and that their presence will improve results.'