Sir Edmund Hillary, the legendary New Zealand mountaineer standing at an imposing 6ft 2 (188 cm), used his towering height to excel as a rugby forward and conquer extreme challenges.
After a rapid teenage growth spurt to his full 6ft 2, Hillary noted in his book Nothing Venture, Nothing Win that mountaineering gear was designed for 'midgets' and ill-suited to his stature. This physical presence aided his pivotal role alongside Tenzing Norgay as the first to summit Mount Everest in 1953.
- Led Antarctic expeditions, including the first to the South Pole overland.
- Founded the Himalayan Trust for Nepalese development.
- Awarded the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal for conservation.