The global public vote for the Laureus Best Sporting Moment kicks off in June. Xia Boyu, a Chinese mountaineer who lost both legs, has been nominated for achieving his dream of reaching the summit of Mount Everest at the age of 69 on his fifth attempt.
At 10:40 AM Beijing time on May 14, 2018, KAILAS athlete Xia Boyu successfully summited Mount Everest. The mountain he had challenged five times, the one he both hated and loved, the one he had strived for most of his life, finally gave him a perfect ending.
At the age of 25, Xia Boyu lost both legs to frostbite during an Everest climb. But his determination to realize his dream never faded. He made three attempts in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The closest he got was just 90 meters from the summit—but the peak always remained just out of reach.
"Reaching this altitude, everyone wants to charge to the top without thinking. For me, it’s even more so. Whether I can get down afterward or not, I just want to keep going up." At the time, there were already rumors that Nepal would no longer allow disabled people to climb Everest starting in 2018—this could very well be Xia’s last chance.
On January 1, 2018, Nepal issued a ban prohibiting solo climbs of peaks including Everest. All foreign climbers in Nepal must be accompanied by guides, and blind or double-leg amputee climbers may be completely banned from climbing. This undoubtedly added another obstacle to Xia Boyu’s dream of summiting Everest from the southern route in Nepal.
But fortunately, as the saying goes, perseverance pays off. At 10:40 AM on May 14, 2018, Xia Boyu finally stood atop the Everest he had pursued his entire life.
Xia Boyu described his relationship with Everest this way: "Challenging it is not about conquering it, but about knowing myself and connecting with the world." He said, "Only by overcoming difficulties can you achieve something new. That’s why I never gave up. No matter the circumstances, if you don’t overcome challenges, you’ll never improve."
All his efforts were for one dream: to summit Everest without legs. This aligns perfectly with KAILAS’s brand positioning: Just For Climbing. Since its founding, KAILAS has embraced a forward-looking mindset of Just For Climbing and tackling challenges head-on, cultivating the outdoor market with care. KAILAS understands that as a brand born in the high mountains, it must strive to promote high-altitude mountaineering and global sport climbing. Through a series of climbing-related events and individual climber sponsorships, KAILAS helps every nature lover and mountain admirer realize their value and fulfill their dreams. From the “Unclimbed Peaks Project” to “Rock Hunting China,” from the Leading Climbing School to the National Climbing Team, from 13 eight-thousanders summiteer Lu Jing to legless elder Xia Boyu who climbed Everest five times—everything embodies KAILAS’s creed: Just For Climbing.
As a brand focused on mountaineering and rock climbing, KAILAS has become a standout Asian brand after years of effort. It serves as the official equipment supplier to authoritative climbing organizations and professional teams such as the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), FFCAM (French Climbing Federation), China National Climbing Team, Australia National Climbing Team, USA National Climbing Team, French National Mountaineering Team, and the Spanish National Team. KAILAS’s design philosophy of the “Lightweight Revolution” runs through all its product lines, with designs winning multiple international awards such as ISPO Germany and the Outdoor Industry Award. It is also a partner of renowned international competitions like the Climbing World Cup, European Outdoor Show Bouldering Competition, Russian Climbing Championships, and the Australian National Bouldering Open. Additionally, large-scale public welfare initiatives initiated by KAILAS—such as the “Unclimbed Peaks Project,” “Rock Hunting China,” and “Leading Outdoor Education”—have significantly advanced the development of mountaineering and outdoor sports in China, making outstanding contributions to the adventure sports community.
