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About Michael Groom
Michael Groom is unquestionably one of the world's greatest 'big' mountain climbers. In 1995 he became the fourth person in the world to climb the four highest mountains without the assistance of bottled oxygen.
In 1999 he successfully climbed Makalu, the smallest and for Michael, the last of the 'big five' - the five highest mountains in the world. Makalu, Lhotse, Kangchenjunga, K2 and Everest - Michael climbed them all without the assistance of bottled oxygen, and all but Kangchenjunga he climbed without the front third of both feet.
Michael Groom grew up in the wild Australian mountains, in a family of mountain climbers. During his very first abseil, at the tender age of 10, his dad talked him over the edge of a 100 metre cliff. Somehow, he got to the bottom, but had experienced a life threatening fear that he would carry with him for the rest of his life. That fear and respect Michael will tell you has saved him many times. The big mountains demand your respect, and respect your fear.
In 1987, descending from the summit of Kangchenjunga, his first big five mountain, he suffered crippling frostbite and later had the front of both feet amputated. He was advised to get a desk job, and that his climbing days were definitely over. But Michael was not a quitter and decided that he would fulfil his dream to Climb Mount Everest. Slowly he trained himself to walk again, then to run, and then a year later he was cycling and ready to start climbing again. First, small rock cliffs in his hometown then back to where he belonged, in the big Himalayan Mountains.
On Australia Day 2000 Michael was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for achievement in mountaineering. A documentary titled Sheer Will was shown on the Seven Network in 2000. His autobiography Sheer Will was released in 1997 and reprinted numerous times since. Michael lives in Brisbane, with his wife Judi and son Harry and is one of Australia's most sought after keynote speakers
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