Antarctica | January 6, 2026, Hari Budha Magar, a former British Army Gurkha veteran, double above-knee amputee, mountaineer, and global disability rights advocate, has made history by successfully summiting Mount Vinson (4,892m) in Antarctica, completing his extraordinary “Conquering Dreams: Seven Summits” mission to climb the highest mountain on each of the world’s seven continents. The expedition was enabled by DIGI2AL. Mount Vinson marks the final summit in a journey that began with Hari’s groundbreaking ascent of Mount Everest, a climb that brought him worldwide recognition and challenged long-held perceptions about disability and human potential.
Photo Courtesy: Hari Budha Magar
Hari Budha Magar is a Nepalese-born former Gurkha soldier who lost both legs above the knee while serving in Afghanistan in 2010. Following his life-changing injuries, Hari rebuilt his life through sport, endurance challenges, and extreme mountaineering. He has since become a global symbol of resilience, using his achievements to campaign for disability awareness, inclusion, and equal opportunity around the world. Hari Budha Magar’s Seven Summits achievements include Mount Everest (Asia) in May 2023, followed by Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North America), Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Elbrus (Europe), Puncak Jaya/Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania), and culminating with Mount Vinson (Antarctica) on 6 January 2026 at 22:00.
Photo Courtesy: Hari Budha Magar
Hari departed his home in the United Kingdom on Christmas Eve, travelling to one of the most remote and hostile environments on Earth. After years of preparation and a gruelling three days climb, Hari and his team: Abiral Rai, Mingma Sherpa, and expedition leader Jangbu Sherpa from Alpine Ascents, endured 25°C temperatures, Antarctic winds, steep vertical slopes, and vast frozen ice fields. Battling conditions that tested mind, body, and prosthetic legs to the extreme, the team reached the summit at 22:00 on 6 January 2026, completing one of the most inspirational mountaineering achievements of modern times.
Photo Courtesy: Hari Budha Magar
After summiting, Hari said: “If you have a dream and dedicate yourself and never give up, you can achieve anything - whatever life throws at you. Thank you to my team, family, friends, community, charities, partners and supporters. This wouldn’t happen without them. We have shown that nothing is impossible and made awareness of disability, inspiring others to climb ‘their own mountains’ and conquer their dreams whatever that might be. Changing perceptions of disability will not happen overnight. Since Everest, I have dedicated my life to this mission, showing that with support, adaptation, perseverance people with disabilities can accomplish the impossible! Please help me to make awareness of disability around the world, this message should go to every person with a disability, their loved ones, society and authorities.”
Photo Courtesy: Hari Budha Magar
Hari Budha Magar’s completion of the Seven Summits stands as a historic achievement in mountaineering, military legacy, and disability advocacy, sending a powerful message worldwide: nothing is impossible.
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