After an arduous and daring ascent, seven Colombian climbers on Thursday reached the highest peak in Antarctica.
President Juan Manuel Santos was the first to hear the news when he received a call from the climbers directly from the 16,000-feet peak of Mount Vinson.
“What emotion, Mr. President! What honor, what excitement! It is a privilege for me to be honoring my country’s flag on the highest peak of Antarctica, showing the world how far we can go as Colombians,” exclaimed Nelson Cardona, a climber who conquered the summit on one leg. Cardona lost his leg in a tragic traffic accident six years ago.
The President echoed the climbers’ passionate voices over the line.
“Many congratulations,” said Mr. Santos. “Really, what you just did with the whole team is a clear example of what we can do as Colombians, and even more a convincing demonstration of self-improvement, of which there are no obstacles when you want to overcome and achieve objectives.”
The seven climbers, whose mission to the top of Antarctica commenced on January 8, displayed a Colombian flag given to them from the President himself.
The mission began earlier this month but the idea traces its origin back to 2001 when the group of adventurers came up with the plan they called “The Seven Summits.” The idea was simple — reach the highest point on every continent. Though the group has not completed their awesome goal, they can now say, however, that they have been on top of the bottom of the world.