KATHMANDU: Andrew Ushakov has set a new record as the fastest person to summit Mount Everest from sea level, completing the journey in 3 days, 23 hours, and 7 minutes.
Ushakov began his attempt in New York on May 15 at 12:30 a.m., starting at sea level. He flew to Kathmandu, then to Everest Base Camp, before beginning the ascent. He reached the 8,848.86-meter summit at 9:22 a.m. on May 19.
The majority of climbers typically take over 50 days to complete the Everest climb, largely due to the need for acclimatization. Ushakov, however, trained for the expedition by spending over 400 hours in a hypoxic tent designed to simulate high-altitude conditions.
The expedition was organized by Elite Exped, which noted that Ushakov is not a full-time athlete. He began mountaineering in 2020 and manages both family responsibilities and a business. The company also said he had recently recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in an avalanche earlier this year.
According to Elite Exped, Ushakov used traditional bottled oxygen for the climb from Base Camp to the summit. He was supported by an experienced team including Tejan Gurung (TJ), Pur Bahadur Gurung, Bidhan Shrestha, Sujal Gurung, KiTemba Sherpa, and Pemba Chhewang Sherpa.
Following the ascent, Ushakov and his team also participated in a cleanup effort on the mountain during their descent.
Ushakov said he hopes the record highlights the value of preparation and determination.
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