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 is known for being the first Lebanese person to climb Mount Everest and all of the Seven Summits. These are the highest mountains on each of the world's seven continents.
Maxime also made history on December 28, 2007. He became the first person from the Middle East to reach the South Pole on foot. He walked there from the coast of Antarctica without any outside help, a journey that took 47 days. Later, on April 25, 2009, he reached the North Pole also on foot, starting his journey from Canada.
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About Maxime Chaya
Maxime Edgard Chaya grew up in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1975, a civil war forced his family to move abroad. He studied in Greece, France, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He earned a science degree from the London School of Economics.
After college, Chaya worked at a bank for a year. Then, he returned to Lebanon to manage his family's money exchange business. In 1999, he started his own company called VO2max. This company organized sports events and competitions for young people in Lebanon.
Maxime's Early Sports Life
VO2max organized many types of races and challenges. These included cycling (both road and mountain biking), triathlon, road running, trail-running, rock climbing, ski touring, and freeride.
Maxime was not just an organizer; he loved to compete himself. He was very good at every sport he tried. Even without professional coaching, his hard work and strong will helped him win many awards. He won both national and international competitions.
Life in Lebanon Today
Today, Chaya lives in Lebanon with his two children, Edgard and Kelly. Even with work and family, he stays very fit. He now focuses on outdoor sports like trail running, biking, backcountry skiing, and climbing.
Since 2003, Maxime has partnered with Bank Audi for his "Seven Summits Project." This partnership has led to many successful trips. He has gained a lot of experience and learned new things about himself. He calls this "Growing Beyond His Potential" with each new summit.
Breaking World Records
On August 5, 2013, Chaya and two teammates broke a world record. They rowed across the Indian Ocean faster than anyone before. The team, including Faroese Livar Nysted and British Stuart Kershaw, rowed 5,801 kilometers. They started from Geraldton in Western Australia and reached Mauritius 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 history again. They were the first people to cross a sand desert on bicycles. They rode their special "fat bikes" across the Empty Quarter desert. They traveled from Abu Dhabi, UAE, to Salalah, Oman. This journey was about 1,500 kilometers and took 21 days.
Maxime's Big Achievements
National Sports Wins
- National champion in sports like squash, cross-country skiing, and cycling.
- Won the Redbull Sno-to-Sea race in Lebanon four times (2003 to 2006).
International Sports Wins
Maxime has represented Lebanon in many international events:
- 2nd place overall: "Trophée du Nil" (Egypt – 1998).
- 3rd place overall: "Raid Thai" (Thailand – 1999).
- 1st place: "Kenya Sports Safari" (Kenya – 2001).
- 23rd place: UCI World Masters Championships (Canada – 2001).
- One of the first Lebanese people to finish an "Ironman" triathlon (the Netherlands – 2002).
Amazing Expeditions
In 2000, Maxime visited Kenya for a mountain biking race, which he won. While there, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He didn't know it then, but this was the first of his 'Seven Summits'. Watching the sunrise from the top of Africa, he felt a strong desire to challenge himself more in the great outdoors, especially in high mountains.
The Seven Summits Challenge
Over three years, Chaya climbed each of the 'Seven Summits'. These are the highest peaks on every continent. Each time, he proudly raised the Lebanese flag. He then went on to achieve the 'Three Poles' challenge.
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. The series was very popular and showed the challenges and triumphs of climbing the world's highest peak.
Maxime has often said that reaching the summit of Everest and, more importantly, coming back down safely, is a very serious task. Even the best climbers can be in danger. Everest might not be the most technical climb, but its extreme height makes any problem much bigger. This altitude is what makes Chomolungma (the Tibetan name for Everest) special and worthy of great respect.
On May 15, 2006, after successfully reaching the top of Everest, Chaya faced a very sad situation. On his way down, he found a dying climber, David Sharp, in a cave in the "Death Zone." Another climber's body, known as Green Boots, was also there. Chaya and his Sherpa, Dorjee, tried their best to help David, even though it was very risky due to the low oxygen. They spent over an hour trying to revive him. Sadly, David was unconscious and frozen, and did not respond to oxygen. Chaya was very upset, as heard in his radio calls to basecamp. He eventually had to accept that nothing more could be done. He later said, "He was much closer to death than he was to life." David Sharp's mother later thanked Chaya, saying she was sure he had done all he could in such impossible conditions.
The Three Poles Challenge
After Everest, Chaya completed the Three Poles Challenge. He reached the South Pole on December 28, 2007. He traveled without help, starting from Hercules Inlet 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. They spent 53 days on the ice without outside help. He became the 16th person to complete the Three Poles Challenge and only the 6th person ever to achieve both the Seven Summits and the Three Poles Challenge.
Rowing an Ocean
Still looking for new challenges, Chaya decided to take on the high seas. After years of planning and training, he started his journey 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 for the fastest row across the Indian Ocean (57 days, 15 hours, 49 minutes). They were also the first three-person crew to ever row across an ocean. Maxime Chaya is believed to be the only person in the world to have climbed the Seven Summits, reached the Three Poles Challenge, and rowed an ocean.
Peaks 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 Climbed
Maxime Chaya raised the Lebanese flag on all Seven Summits:
- 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: Honored by the President of Lebanon with the "National Order of the Cedar" – Rank: Knight.
- May 2006: Further honored by the President with the "National Order of the Cedar" – Rank: Officer.
- May 2008: Received the "Paul Harris Fellowship" from the Rotary Foundation.
Stamps and Calling Cards
- July 2007: A postal stamp was issued by the Ministry of Finance to celebrate Chaya's climb of Mount Everest.
- April 2008: A fiscal stamp was issued by the Ministry of Finance to celebrate Chaya's success at the South Pole.
- March 2008: Kalam Cards (calling cards) were issued by the Ministry of Telecommunications. Two cards celebrated his Everest success (May 15, 2006) and his South Pole success (December 28, 2007).
Inspirational Speaking
Speaking to Students and Clubs
As part of his community work, Chaya often visits schools, universities, and clubs. He gives a presentation called: "There is an Everest for Everyone." This talk aims to inspire young people.
Some of the schools and universities Maxime Chaya has visited to motivate students include:
- International College
- Antonine Sisters School - Mar Elias Ghazir-Lebanon
- Repton School – Dubai
- Beirut Modern School
- Notre Dame de la Paix des filles de la Charite – Kobayat
- Modern Community School
- Wellspring Community School Exhibition – Max Museum
- Graduation Sagesse Technique
- City International School
- ACS
- American School of Dubai
- École des Sœurs des Saints Cœurs – Zahle
- Collège des Sœurs des St Cœurs -Kfar Hbaab Ghazir
- Lycée Franco - Libanais / Remise des Diplômes
- Collège Saint Joseph – Antoura – Aintoura
- Collège des Sœurs des Saints Cœurs – Bouchrieh
- Saydet Al Ataya – Dekwaneh
- St. Hripsimiantz College
- Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais
- Alba – Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts
- Dubai Women's College
- Armenian Mesrobian School
- Collège Notre Dame de Jamhour on the independence day celebration November 2010
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 these talks, he compares mountain climbing to the challenges faced in business and 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)
- United Motors Agency – KSA (April 2008)
- Honeywell – Abu Dhabi (April 2008)
- Abbott Pharmaceuticals – Sri Lanka (March 2008)
- General Motors – UAE (March 2008)
- RasGas – Qatar (February 2008)
- L'Oréal – United States (January 2008)
- OBEGI Consumer Products – Lebanon (June 2007)
- Hewlett Packard – Nepal (May 2007)
- Schneider Electric – Lebanon (March 2007)
- Leo Burnett – Dubai, UAE (February 2007)
- Medco – Lebanon (January 2007)
- Boston Scientific – Lebanon (July 2006)
- 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). Some of these include:
- Oum El Nour
- Tobacco Free Initiative – Lebanon
- Arc-En-Ciel
- Social and Economic Action for Lebanon (SEAL) – Lebanon
- Toufoula – Lebanon
- Chance – Lebanon
- Heartbeat – Lebanon
- ThinkGreen
Board Memberships
- Beirut Marathon Association
- World Links
