December 05

Born in 1947 in Govi-Altai, Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa graduated from the Soviet Air Force Academy as a fighter pilot. In 1981, he made history as the first Mongolian to travel to space on the Soyuz 39 mission to the Salyut 6 space station. After his spaceflight, he continued his military career, achieving the rank of Major General in the Mongolian armed forces. Gürragchaa later served as Mongolia's Minister of Defense and Ambassador to Russia and Germany. He is celebrated as a national hero and a pioneer in Asia's space exploration.

Ralf Dujmovits, born in 1961 in Germany, is a renowned mountaineer who became the first German to climb all 14 eight-thousand-meter peaks. He achieved this feat in 2009, completing summits such as Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga without supplemental oxygen. Dujmovits has led numerous expeditions and promotes sustainable tourism and environmental conservation in mountainous regions. As an author and speaker, he shares insights on high-altitude physiology and risk management. His accomplishments have inspired climbers worldwide and contributed to mountaineering safety practices.

Lewis Pugh has completed pioneering open-water swims in remote and icy regions, including both the Arctic and the Antarctic, to draw attention to climate change. As a maritime lawyer, he has advised on marine conservation policies and served as a special envoy for the United Nations Environment Programme. Pugh's expeditions have helped secure marine protected areas and influenced international environmental agreements. He has received honors for his humanitarian and conservation efforts. Pugh continues to combine athletic achievement with advocacy for the world's oceans.