Sibusiso Vilane is firmly in the second category.

From becoming the first Black African to summit Mount Everest, to completing the Seven Summits and trekking to both the South and North Poles, he has built one of the most extraordinary adventure résumés in the world.

And in February 2026, he added something absolutely wild to that list. After nearly two weeks acclimatising on Chile’s Ojos del Salado volcano, in freezing winds and oxygen levels less than half of what we’re used to, he started the World’s Highest Marathon.

A 42.2 kilometre descent from 6,893 metres above sea level. Only five of sixteen starters finished. He crossed the line just after 6:30 in the morning after more than 16 hours, becoming the first African to complete it.