Nationality: United States
Inducted: 2025
Notable Record(s):
-
First blind person to climb Everest
-
First blind person to climb the Seven Summits
An ICON because...
Diagnosed with juvenile retinoschisis as a baby, Erik gradually lost most of his sight when he was nine. By the age of 14, the condition had left him completely blind. However, that never stopped the record holder from chasing new challenges.
Erik discovered a burning passion for rock climbing during his teenage years and, in 2001, broke the record as the first blind person to climb Mount Everest.
Scaling Mount Everest represents a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for many seasoned mountaineers, but it was just the beginning of Erik's accomplishments. In 2002 (and again in 2008), he became the first blind person to climb the Seven Summits, conquering the highest peaks on all seven continents.
Beyond mountaineering, Erik also penned three memoirs and co-founded No Barriers, a nonprofit organization empowering individuals to overcome day-to-day challenges. Record after record, he lives by a powerful mantra: "What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."
