Dr. Sasko Kedev, who celebrated his 63rd Birthday on 6th July, has made history by becoming the first and only Macedonian to summit both all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks and the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent, completing one of the elite achievements in high-altitude mountaineering.

Following his achievement, his wife, Ganka Cvetanova, spoke to Everest Today:

“He is the first Macedonian and the only one in the broader region to have climbed both all 14×8,000s and all the 7 Summits.”

The final ascent in his journey came on Gasherbrum I (8,080 m), at 10:44 Pakistan Local Time this morning, where he stood on the summit and joined the ranks of the world’s few climbers to have climbed all 14 eight-thousanders, according to the expedition organizer, Imagine Nepal Treks.

In addition to his mountaineering accomplishments, Dr. Kedev is one of the world’s top interventional cardiologists, credited with developing groundbreaking methodologies that have advanced cardiac care globally.

“In addition to mountaineering, he is one of the leading interventional cardiologists on a global scale. He has played a key role in shaping and advancing new methodologies in interventional cardiology, making a profound impact on the practice worldwide. Also, he has climbed many peaks on the Swiss Alps, including Matterhorn, Weisshorn, Eiger, Dufourspitze, etc,” added Cvetanova.

Known not only for his climbing but also his career in medicine, Dr. Kedev’s accomplishment is a landmark moment for North Macedonia. With this feat, he places his country’s flag alongside the map of elites in Himalayan mountaineering history.