He lost his legs in 2015, climbed Mount Everest in 2026 with his hands: Meet Rustam Nabiev, Russian mountaineer who has climbed three of the world's highest mountains

Where there is a will, there is a way. For those who dare to dream, no hurdle is big enough, not even the absence of legs to climb the highest mountain peak on the planet. Every year, thousands of mountaineers dream of climbing up the Everest.

While the journey is harrowing and humbling for all, the world was shocked to see a mountaineer with only two hands climbing up to the peak.This person was none other than Russian mountaineer Rustam Nabiev, who lost both his legs in a military barracks collapse and yet managed to achieve what many think of as impossible.

The dedicated climber

Nabiev successfully climbed Mount Everest without using prosthetic legs, becoming the first double amputee to do so using only his arms.

He reached the summit of Everest, which stands at 8,848.86 metres on May 20 during the 2026 spring climbing season in Nepal.In 2015, he lost both his legs after a barracks building collapsed while he was sleeping. Numerous soldiers died in the incident while he survived and braved through. After the life-changing incident, he continued to push himself through extreme physical challenges.As per Everest Base Camp field office coordinator Khim Lal Gautam, Nabiev safely reached the summit and later began descending toward the base camp.

Videos shared from his expedition showed him crossing the dangerous ladders of the Khumbu Icefall using his hands alone.Nabiev said it took him nearly 15 hours to cross the icefall and reach Camp I, located at around 6,065 metres, as per reports.

A journey through the mountains

Losing both his legs did not stop Nabiev, it made him more adventurous and daring. He began his journey by climbing Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Russia and Europe.He later arrived in Nepal in 2021 and successfully climbed Mount Manaslu, the world's eighth-highest mountain.

In 2026, he returned to the country to achieve one of the biggest goals, climbing the Everest. He spent the entirety of April and the first half of May undergoing rigorous acclimatisation and preparing for one of the most daring climbs in the world. After reaching the summit, the daring mountaineer shared an emotional message on Instagram.“On May 20th, at 8:16 AM Nepal time, for the first time in the history of mountaineering, I, Rustam Nabiev, reached the summit of Everest using only my arms! I dedicate this ascent to everyone watching me now.

With this act, I simply want to say one thing: as long as there’s life left in you, fight! Please fight to the end! It’s worth it!" he wrote.

Hail the mountaineer

Numerous netizens took to congratulating Nabeiv on his achievement and journey."Congratulations. I won't be able to do it with 4 legs and 4 hands," commended one netizen."Strikes me he is more enabled than most both physically and mentally. I am truly humbled and in awe of anybody that can climb to the top of the world but this achievement blows my mind. Bravo," congratulated another."Congratulations on scaling the Mt. Everest. You have become an inspiration for mankind," added one."Wow !! That is crazy !! Such an inspiration !!" said another.