First Black Everest Summitter Completes World's Highest Marathon
The first Black summitter of Mount Everest has now completed the world's highest marathon, marking a landmark achievement for diversity in adventure sports. This accomplishment breaks new ground for representation in high-altitude endurance challenges and demonstrates the intersection of mountaineering and running excellence.
- The Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon starts at the Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5,364 meters (17,598 feet), making it the highest marathon in the world. The race commemorates the first successful ascent of Everest on May 29, 1953, by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary. - The marathon's course is primarily downhill but covers rugged terrain, including glacial moraines, rocky paths, and steep ascents and descents through the Khumbu Valley, finishing in Namche Bazaar at 3,440 meters (11,286 feet). - The individual highlighted is Saray Khumalo, a South African explorer who became the first Black African woman to summit Mount Everest on May 16, 2019. This was her fourth attempt to climb the world's highest peak. - Khumalo is also the first Black African woman to have reached the South Pole. Her mountaineering endeavors are part of her "Summits with a Purpose" initiative, which raises funds for education and literacy in Africa. - Through her climbing, she has raised money to build digital libraries for children and supports organizations like the Nelson Mandela Libraries and the Lunch Box Fund. - The first Black person to summit Mount Everest was Sibusiso Vilane, also from South Africa, who accomplished the feat on May 26, 2003. He has summited Everest twice and has also completed the Seven Summits. - The Everest Marathon offers several race categories, including a 60km ultramarathon, a 42km full marathon, and a 21km half marathon.
