In May 2005, he became the first person in the world to complete a True Explorers Grand Slam.[1] He climbed the world's 14 eight-thousanders, the Seven Summits, and trekked to both poles.[1] He holds the world's fourth fastest time (behind Nirmal Purja of Nepal, Kim Chang-ho[2] of South Korea, and Jerzy Kukuczka of Poland) for ascending the 14 eight-thousanders, he climbed six of the 8,000-meter Himalayan peaks within one year, and gained another record for reaching the South Pole on foot in 44 days, self-sufficient and without any food re-supplies.[3]