Russian adventurer Rustam Nabiev has made mountaineering history after successfully reaching the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the first double amputee to conquer the world’s tallest mountain without using prosthetic limbs.
Officials at Everest Base Camp confirmed that Nabiev completed the historic ascent and safely began his descent back toward camp after reaching the peak.
Nabiev, a former Russian paratrooper, lost both of his legs in 2015 when a military barracks building collapsed while he was asleep, killing several soldiers. Despite the life-changing tragedy, he refused to abandon his passion for adventure and mountaineering.
Determined to prove that physical disabilities do not limit human potential, Nabiev later climbed Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in both Russia and Europe. His achievement inspired climbers worldwide and strengthened awareness about adaptive sports and resilience.
Motivated by earlier successes, Nabiev traveled to Nepal in 2021 and conquered Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest peak. This year, he returned with an even greater challenge — scaling Everest itself.
His accomplishment adds another historic chapter to adaptive mountaineering. Three years earlier, Hari Budha Magar became the first double amputee to summit Everest using prosthetic legs before later climbing the tallest peaks across all seven continents.
Meanwhile, Everest’s spring climbing season continues at full pace, with hundreds of international climbers attempting summit pushes. Authorities reported that 270 climbers reached the summit on Wednesday alone, while more than 490 expedition permits were issued for the 2026 season.
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