In a groundbreaking achievement, a mountaineer has become the first individual to ski down Mount Everest without using supplemental oxygen, as confirmed by expedition organizers on Thursday.
Polish national Andrzej Bargiel’s achievement is also being hailed as a landmark moment in the world of extreme endurance sports.
Bargiel, 37, summited the world’s highest peak at 29,032 feet Sept. 22 before putting on his skis and starting his big descent.
“Here I am at the summit of the world’s tallest peak, ready to ski down,” said Bargiel in a video on his Instagram, moments before descending from the snowy peak.
Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel makes history skiing down Mount Everest without oxygen. (Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Bargiel endured nearly 16 hours in the perilous “death zone” above 8,000 meters, where oxygen is scarce, making survival extremely challenging without bottled air.
When he reached base camp, Bargiel was greeted with a khada, a ceremonial Buddhist scarf, in recognition of his success.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk applauded the feat on X, stating, “Is the sky the limit? Not for the Polish! Andrzej Bargiel has just skied down Everest.”
Bargiel is familiar with high-altitude achievements. In 2018, he was the first to ski down K2 in Pakistan, the second-highest mountain globally, a feat recognized by BBC News as part of celebrating Poland’s centenary of regained independence.
He had also attempted Everest in 2019 and again in 2022 but was thwarted by unstable ice and high winds.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Andrzej Bargiel for comment.
