Friday March 29th, 2024
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Omar Samra Gets to Name 3 Antarctica Mountains After Becoming First Person to Ever Climb Them

Mount Samra, Mount Marwa, and Mount Teela are the new names of three Antarctica mountains that no one in the world has ascended except for Omar Samra.

Staff Writer

Omar Samra, Egypt's ultimate explorer and adventurer, just officially named three Antarctica mountains after his own family name and those of his daughter and deceased wife. Samra earned this honour after he ascended all 3 of them, becoming the first human being to do so, Samra said in a Facebook post. In the process he also discovered 6 new routes. 

Samra, who was unaware he would be granted the privilege of naming the mountains, set out to climb them in mid December, successfully completing the ascents later the same month, before flying back to Egypt.

Known for breaking records, Samra, a former CairoScene coloumnist, became the first Egyptian to reach the highest point on Earth in 2007 and to complete the Seven Summits challenge, a climb of the highest mountains of seven continents, making him the first Egyptian to complete the Explorer’s Grand Slam challenge.

It hasn't been all gain and no pain for Samra; in 2013, he lost his wife, Marwa, shortly after she gave birth to their daughter, Teela. He shared the heart-wrenching story of losing her as he was featured on Humans of New York last year. After completing his three ascents, he dubbed two of the mountains after them, citing the choice as naming them after "the two greatest loves of my life."

In December 2013, Samra won a space competition in Orlando, USA, which aims to launch 22 contestants into Earth’s outer orbit on a private spaceship. When completed, Samra will become the first Egyptian to go in outer space.