Geri Winkler

Who is Geri Winkler?

Geri Winkler is an Austrian mountaineer, who was the first insulin-dependent diabetic to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Since 1984, Winkler has taught mathematics, French, and German language in Vienna. In September 1984, he was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 1. In April 1987, he ran the Vienna marathon, marking the first time a diabetic patient had finished a marathon.

In the 1990s he ascended Popocatepetl in Mexico and Muztagh Ata in China. In the summer of 2001, he climbed Elbrus in Russia, the highest mountain in Europe. In the winter of 2002 and 2003, Winkler climbed Aconcagua in Argentina, the tallest mountain in South America.

In late 2005, Winkler started a six-month tour of seven countries that started at the Dead Sea by bicycle and ended at Mount Everest. On 20 May 2006, Winkler became the first insulin-dependent diabetic to reach the top of Mount Everest.