New Zealander's Everest legacy upheld by Sherpa's milestone
Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand beekeeper, was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. His achievement became a symbol of human determination and courage. Kami Rita Sherpa's accomplishment exemplifies this best.
Edmund Hillary, born on July 20, 1919, in New Zealand, gained fame as the first person to summit Mount Everest. Together with the Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, on May 29, 1953, he stood atop the highest mountain in the world. This historic event brought him international fame and recognition. On the 72nd anniversary, it's worth remembering this incredible achievement.
The beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest
Hillary, before he became a legendary mountaineer, worked as a beekeeper. In the winter, when the bees were inactive, he dedicated time to climbing in the New Zealand Alps. His passion for the mountains led him to participate in the expedition that changed his life. In 1953, after climbing Everest, Hillary was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
The news of his success reached him only after three days, when Hillary was at the base of Everest. On a small transistor radio, Hillary heard the voice of a BBC announcer delivering the news of the New Zealander's feat.
“My God!” said Edmund Hillary at the time. “We did it, we reached the top!”
After his success on Everest, Hillary continued his exploration adventures. Between 1954 and 1967, he led expeditions to the Himalayas and Antarctica. In 1958, he reached the South Pole, and in 1985, he flew over the Arctic with Neil Armstrong, landing at the North Pole.
The Nepalese who upholds Hillary's achievement
Kami Rita Sherpa, a 55-year-old Nepalese Sherpa, reached the summit of Mount Everest for the 31st time, achieving the summit height of 8,848 metres on Tuesday at 6:00 PM Eastern Time. Kami Rita, who led a group of Indian army officers, is recognized as a national hero of climbing and a global symbol of Everest.
Kami Rita first climbed Mount Everest in 1994 and has repeated this feat nearly every year since. In some years, like 2023 and 2024, he climbed the summit twice. His main competitor is Pasang Dawa, who has reached the summit of Everest 29 times.
Kami Rita emphasizes that his climbs are primarily work.
“I am happy with the record, but records are eventually broken,” he told AFP in 2024.
He added that his achievements help increase Nepal's recognition around the world.
