Maxime Chaya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maxime Chaya
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| مكسيم شعيا | |
'There is an Everest for Everyone'
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| Born | December 16, 1961 |
| Nationality | Lebanese |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics and Political Science |
| Occupation | Sportsman, Climber, Explorer, Professional Speaker, Corporate Ambassador |
| Spouse(s) | Pascale Melhem Kesrouani (Poupa) |
| Children | Edgard & Kelly |
| Awards | Officer of the National Order of the Cedar |
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Maxime Chaya (Arabic: مكسيم شعيا; born on December 16, 1961) is a famous Lebanese mountaineer and explorer. He made history on May 15, 2006, by becoming the first Lebanese person to climb Mount Everest. He also completed the challenge of climbing the Seven Summits, which are the highest mountains on each continent.
Max continued his amazing journeys. On December 28, 2007, he became the first person from the Middle East to reach the South Pole. He walked there from the Antarctic coast without any help or supplies from others. This tough trip took him 47 days. Later, on April 25, 2009, he also reached the North Pole on foot, starting all the way from Canada.
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About Maxime Chaya
Maxime Edgard Chaya was born and grew up in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1975, a civil war started, and his family had to move abroad for safety. He studied in different countries like Greece, France, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He earned a science degree from the London School of Economics.
After his studies, Chaya worked for a bank for a year. But he soon returned to Lebanon to help with his family's money exchange business. In 1999, he started his own company called VO2max. Through this company, he organized many sports events for young people in Lebanon. These events included cycling, triathlon, road running, rock climbing, and ski touring.
Maxime loved to compete himself and was very good at many sports. Even without professional training, his hard work and strong will helped him win many awards. He won both national and international competitions.
Today, Chaya lives in Lebanon with his two children, Edgard and Kelly. He stays very fit and enjoys outdoor sports like trail running, biking, and climbing.
Since 2003, Chaya has partnered with Bank Audi for his "Seven Summits Project." This partnership has led to many successful expeditions. He has gained a lot of experience and learned new things about himself.
On August 5, 2013, Chaya and his two teammates broke a world record. They rowed across the Indian Ocean faster than anyone before. The three adventurers, Chaya, Livar Nysted from the Faroe Islands, and Stuart Kershaw from Britain, rowed 5,801 kilometers. They completed the journey in 57 days, 19 hours, 25 minutes, and 52 seconds. They were also the first team of three people to ever row across any ocean.
In December 2016, Maxime and his British friend Steve Holyoak made another record. They were the first to cross a sand desert on bicycles. They rode their special "fat bikes" across the Empty Quarter desert. They started in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and rode about 1,500 kilometers south to Salalah, Oman. This amazing journey took them 21 days.
Maxime Chaya's Sports Achievements
National Awards
- He was a national champion in several sports. These include squash, cross-country skiing, and cycling.
- He won the Redbull Sno-to-Sea race in Lebanon four times (from 2003 to 2006).
International Awards
Maxime has represented Lebanon in many international events.
- He finished 2nd overall in the "Trophée du Nil" in Egypt in 1998.
- He finished 3rd overall in the "Raid Thai" in Thailand in 1999.
- He won 1st place in the "Kenya Sports Safari" in Kenya in 2001.
- He placed 23rd in the UCI World Masters Championships in Canada in 2001.
- He was one of the first Lebanese people to finish an "Ironman" triathlon in the Netherlands in 2002.
Maxime Chaya's Expeditions
In 2000, Maxime Chaya visited Kenya for a mountain biking race, which he won. While there, he decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in nearby Tanzania. He didn't know it then, but this climb was the first of his "Seven Summits." As he watched the sunrise from the top of Africa, he realized he wanted to challenge himself more in the great outdoors, especially in high mountains.
Over three years, Chaya climbed each of the "Seven Summits." These are the highest peaks on each continent. He proudly raised the Lebanese flag every time. After conquering these peaks, Chaya decided to achieve the "Three Poles."
In 2006, Discovery Channel created a TV show called Everest: Beyond the Limit. This show followed 11 climbers, including Chaya, as they tried to reach the top of Mount Everest. It showed their two-month journey, their struggles, and their triumphs. The series was very popular and was shown again in later years with different climbers.
Maxime Chaya has often said that reaching the top of Everest and, more importantly, coming back down, is very serious. It can put even the best climbers' lives at risk. Everest might not be the most technical mountain to climb, but its extreme height makes any small problem much bigger. This high altitude is what makes Chomolungma (the Tibetan name for Everest) special and worthy of great respect.
On May 15, 2006, after successfully reaching the summit, Chaya faced a very difficult situation on his way back down Everest. He found a climber who was in great trouble in a cave, near another climber who had passed away. Chaya and his Tibetan Sherpa, Dorjee, tried their best to help, even though it was very dangerous for them due to the low oxygen. They stayed with the climber for over an hour, trying to help him. Sadly, the climber was unconscious and very cold, and did not respond to the oxygen. Chaya was very upset by the situation. He later said, "He was much closer to death than he was to life." The climber's mother later thanked Chaya and told him she was sure he had done everything possible for her son in such extreme conditions.
Chaya then went on to complete the Three Poles Challenge. He reached the South Pole on December 28, 2007. He walked there without any help or supplies, starting 48 days earlier with teammates from Canada, Great Britain, Norway, and Switzerland. About a year and a half later, on April 25, 2009, Chaya and two teammates from the USA reached the North Pole. This journey took 53 days on the ice, also without outside help. He became the 16th person to complete the Three Poles Challenge. He was also the 6th person ever to achieve both the Seven Summits and the Three Poles Challenge.
Still looking for new adventures, Chaya decided to conquer the high seas. After years of planning and training, he set off from Geraldton, Western Australia, on June 9, 2013. He was on his rowboat "tRIO" with two crewmates from the Faroe Islands and Great Britain. They reached Mauritius 57 days later, on August 5. The team earned two Guinness World Records. Their time was recognized as the fastest row across the Indian Ocean. They were also the first three-man crew to ever row across an ocean. Maxime Chaya is believed to be the only person to have climbed the Seven Summits, reached the Three Poles Challenge, and rowed an ocean.
Mountains Climbed and Places Reached
- Mont Blanc (France/Italy)
- Cho Oyu (Tibet/Nepal)
- Mount Aspiring / Tititea (New Zealand)
- The Geographical North Pole (the Arctic Circle)
- The South Pole (Antarctica)
- Mount Ama Dablam (Nepal)
- The Matterhorn (Switzerland/Italy)
The Seven Summits (Highest Peaks on Each Continent)
Maxime Chaya climbed all of these and raised the Lebanese flag on each one:
- Mount Kilimanjaro – 5,895m (Tanzania – September 2001)
- Mount McKinley/Denali – 6,196m (Alaska – June 2003)
- Aconcagua – 6,961m (Argentina – January 2004)
- Vinson Massif – 4,892m (Antarctica – December 2004)
- Mount Elbrus – 5,642m (Russia – July 2005)
- Carstensz Pyramid – 4,884m (Indonesia – November 2005)
- Mount Everest – 8,848m (Tibet / Nepal – May 2006)
Public Recognition
Awards and Honors
- December 2003: He was honored by the President of Lebanon and became a "Knight" in the "National Order of the Cedar."
- May 2006: He was honored again by the President and became an "Officer" in the "National Order of the Cedar."
- May 2008: He received the "Paul Harris Fellowship" award from the Rotary Foundation.
Stamps
- July 2007: The Ministry of Finance issued a special postal stamp to celebrate Chaya's climb of Mount Everest.
- April 2008: Another stamp was issued by the Ministry of Finance to celebrate his success at the South Pole.
Calling Cards
- March 2008: The Ministry of Telecommunications issued "Kalam Cards" (calling cards) to celebrate Chaya's achievements. There were two cards: one for his Everest success in May 2006, and another for his South Pole success in December 2007.
Inspirational Speaking
Speaking to Students and Clubs
As part of his work to help the community, Chaya often visits schools, universities, and clubs. He gives a presentation called: "There is an Everest for Everyone."
Here are some of the schools and universities Maxime Chaya has visited to inspire students:
- International College
- Antonine Sisters School - Mar Elias Ghazir-Lebanon
- Repton School – Dubai
- Beirut Modern School
- ACS
- American School of Dubai
- Collège Saint Joseph – Antoura – Aintoura
- Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais
- Dubai Women's College
- Collège Notre Dame de Jamhour
Speaking to Companies
Chaya also speaks to companies at their yearly events. He gives a more detailed presentation, also called "There is an Everest for Everyone." In this talk, he compares climbing mountains to the challenges faced in business and in life.
Some of the companies he has spoken to include:
- Royal Dutch Shell – Qatar (July 2009)
- PepsiCo – Lebanon (June 2009)
- Johnson & Johnson – Sharm el Sheikh (May 2008)
- Honeywell – Abu Dhabi (April 2008)
- General Motors – UAE (March 2008)
- L'Oréal – United States (January 2008)
- Hewlett Packard – Nepal (May 2007)
- Schneider Electric – Lebanon (March 2007)
- Procter & Gamble – Lebanon (January 2006)
Helping Others
Charities and NGOs
Maxime Chaya is often asked to support and speak for charities and non-profit organizations (NGOs).
- Oum El Nour
- Tobacco Free Initiative – Lebanon
- Arc-En-Ciel
- Toufoula – Lebanon
- Chance – Lebanon
- Heartbeat – Lebanon
- ThinkGreen
Board Memberships
- Beirut Marathon Association
- World Links
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