On May 25, 2001, Erik Weihenmayer became the first blind man to reach the summit of Mount Everest. In September 2002, he completed his climb of the Seven Summits — the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.

A former middle-school teacher and wrestling coach, Weihenmayer is one of the most exciting and well-known athletes in the world. Despite losing his vision at the age of 13, he has become an accomplished mountain climber, skydiver and skier. He has never let his blindness interfere with his passion for an exhilarating and fulfilling life. Weihenmayer’s feats have earned him ESPN’s ARETE Award for courage in sports, induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and, most recently, an IDEA Award from the largest American association of health and physical-fitness professionals, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Glaucoma Foundation.